203 Old Ruins to Explore in Scotland

Brechin Castle is a castle in Brechin, Angus, Scotland. The castle was constructed in stone during the 13th century. Most of the current building dates to the early 18th century, when extensive reconstruction was carried out by architect Alexander Edward for James Maule, 4th Earl of Panmure, between approximately 1696 and 1709. They have fairy trails, zip slide, maze, go karts, water play and more. They also have a separate yard just off the play area for play tractors and sand pits.

The Bressay Heritage Centre, situated at the Bressay ferry terminal, is a local exhibition space, which shows Bressay life and history, as well as information about the mysterious Bronze Age mound that has been relocated alongside. Current displays include information and photographs documenting Bressay’s role in WW1, photographs of Bressay’s flora and a lovely ‘ben end’, a 1960’s living room – Bressay style.

This is a late medeival high single arched bridge crossing the River Doon at the south end of Alloway. It is believed to have been built in the 1400s: until then it had been necessary to cross the river using a ford. As a result a new bridge was built a couple of hundred yards downstream. This opened to traffic in 1816, and today still carries the main road through Alloway south towards Maybole and beyond.

The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village on the northeast coast of Mainland Orkney in Scotland overlooking Eynhallow Sound, about 15 miles north-west of Kirkwall. It once housed a substantial community. It is perched on the edge of the Orkney's west mainland - part of a coastline that, at one point, would have been lined with brochs. Across Eynhallow Sound you can see another well-preserved example at Midhowe in Rousay.

Brochs are a kind of Iron Age roundhouse found only in Scotland, and Mousa is the best-preserved of them all. It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. It is thought to have been constructed c. 100 BC, and is one of more than 500 brochs built in Scotland. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.

The Brough of Birsay that you see today is a collection of Viking buildings that date from the 10th century when the Vikings ruled Orkney. It is located around 13 miles north of Stromness and features the remains of Pictish and Norse settlements as well as a modern light house.

Burghead Well stands in the north-eastern corner of what was once a great Pictish fort. Three huge ramparts and ditches cut off the headland heading into the Moray Firth. Behind them lay an inner fort, dating to about AD 500. Burghead may have served as a Pictish navy base, but it was destroyed by fire in the 800s.

Burleigh Castle was the seat of the Balfours of Burleigh for more than 250 years. You can explore the roofless ruin of a 500-year-old tower house. its chief delight is its remarkable corner tower. Round at the base, its rectangular top floor is corbelled out – an eye-catching piece of Jacobean architecture. It was adapted and expanded in the late 1500s. The Balfours lost the land and castle in 1716.

Burns Cottage, the first home of Robert Burns is located in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It was built by his father, William Burness in 1757. Burns, Scotland's national poet, was born there on 25 January 1759. It is a simple two-roomed clay and thatch cottage and has been fully restored to become part of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Caerlaverock Castle is a moated triangular castle first built in the 13th century. It is located on the southern coast of Scotland. With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing battlements, this awe-inspiring castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold and one of the finest castles in Scotland. The castle, which is protected as a scheduled monument, is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and is a popular tourist attraction.

Cairn Holy I is the more elaborate of the two tombs. Its curving façade of standing stones once formed a backdrop to a forecourt in front of the tomb. Excavations show fires were lit here, possibly for ritual ceremonies. The tomb itself consisted of an outer and an inner compartment. The inner compartment was built as a closed box, and was probably originally roofed by a great stone slab. The outer compartment was entered through the façade.

This is a very majestic structure and was built upon volcanic rock that juts out near the bed of the river and may be considered one of the finest buildings in the district. here are square-headed drip moulds. Corner turrets are square; there is a porte-cochere; the building stands on a terrace, with round corner bastions. The internal hall and staircase have plaster ceilings and other Gothic decoration. The owners possess drawings of the castle prior to the modernisation.

Carlungie Earth House is one of the largest and most complex examples of its kind in Scotland. It was accidentally discovered during ploughing in 1949. Subsequent excavations during the following two years also revealed about eight associated stone dwellings at ground level. The winding passage is one of the most complex earth house structures in Scotland. Despite the name, it is not a house, nor is it built of earth.

Carn Liath is a fine example of a solid-based broch tower. It stands at 3m tall today, but when complete it could have been at least three times that. Carn Liath’s surrounding enclosure also contains the ruins of an associated village - a rare survival of stone houses and outbuildings - the earliest of which would have been contemporary with the broch. The site is under the care of Historic Environment Scotland and has a car-park and information board for visitors.

A majestic mansion house, which is home to a stunning 14th century tower and historic and luxurious mansion house hidden within beautiful, prize-winning gardens and over 2000 acres of parkland in Ayrshire, Scotland. The present form of the house dates back to 1843, although the earlier towers adjoin the newer additions.

The Cassillis Estate, based in Maybole, is nestled amongst 310 acres of land in the sprawling countryside. The castle, which has 112 rooms, is set in a 285-acre estate, and the tower is harled and washed in yellow. It was now one of the iconic attractions in this area and it attracts a lot of tourists to here.

Castle Menzies is a spectacular sixteenth century Scottish castle, restored during the twentieth century by the Menzies Clan Society. It was architecturally fascinating and is a splendid Renaissance example of the transition in Scottish castles from earlier rugged Highland fortresses to later mansion houses.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is located about 3 miles north of Wick on the east coast of Caithness, Scotland. It is considered to be one of the earliest seats of Clan Sinclair. It comprises the ruins of two castles: the 15th-century Castle Girnigoe; and the early 17th-century Castle Sinclair. The ruins sits upon a rocky promontory jutting out into Sinclair Bay.

Castle Stalker is a four storey medieval tower house standing on a small rocky tidal islet known as Rock of the Cormorants. The Castle is believed to have its origins in a small residential fort built in 1320 and used by the MacDougalls who were the Lords of Lorn. Successive generations of the Stewart family have restored and protected this truly unique Scottish castle.

A majestic historical ruin located on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, in Knapdale. Castle Sween is thought to be one of the earliest stone castles built in Scotland, having been built in the late 11th century. The castle's towers were later additions to wooden structures which have since vanished. To its west is a small islet cleared to act as a boat landing, illustrating the vital importance of the sea as a major transport link.