16 Old Ruins to Explore in Argyll and Bute Council

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.

This is the iconic island fortress of the Clan Maclean. Situated on the sea cliffs of the Isle of Mull. Brought back from ruin in 1911, the Castle treasures 800 years of history of one of Scotland’s oldest Clans. From 2015, Duart Castle is opening it’s ancient doors and offering a small number of exclusive weddings events.

Dunollie Castle is a small ruined castle located on a hill north of the town of Oban, on the west coast of Scotland in Argyll. Discover the 1745 Laird's House which holds the fascinating history of the the MacDougall Family and Servants Quarters, including our temporary "Women of Dunollie" exhibition featuring some of the most beautiful pieces from our textile collection.

Dunstaffnage Castle is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland, stands on a huge cliff in northern Scotland overlooking the Firth of Lorn and the entrance to Loch Etive. In Scottish, a firth is a long estuary, similar to a fjord, and a loch is a mostly landlocked bay. It consists of a massive 13th-century curtain wall, with round towers, and an altered 16th-century gatehouse. Ranges of buildings within the walls contained a hall and kitchen.

A ruined castle which was built to dominate the Sound of Kerrera which was once part of a major maritime route for vessels sailing between the mainland and the Inner Hebrides. The castle consisted of a four storey 'L' plan Tower House that was built in the Scots Baronial style. The ground floor consisted of a vaulted store and an access passageway that led to a small courtyard occupying the area to the edge of the cliff as well as the adjoined Stair Tower.

The majestic ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell, and the iconic, must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland. The self-guided tour takes you through 13 rooms on 3 different levels so you get to see the luxurious rooms that would have been visited by guests of the Duke as well as the Kitchen and basement area where servants would have worked. It was one of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

Inveraray Jail is a living museum where real people portray life in a 19th century prison. The two-storied prison has three-foot-thick walls of rough hewn red stone and originally contained cells on both floors, eight in total. Step back in time and experience the true stories of what life was like for the men, women and children – some as young as seven – who were tried and locked up here all those years ago.

Iona Abbey is an abbey located on the island of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. is the spiritual home of the Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian religious order, whose headquarters are in Glasgow. The Abbey remains a popular site of Christian pilgrimage today. The abbey remained an important place of worship and pilgrimage until the Reformation in 1560, after which monastic life came to an end and it largely fell into disuse.

A majestic ruin of a fortress, a comfortable residence and later a garrison stronghold, and contains the oldest surviving barracks on the British mainland. It was built in the mid-1400s, and it remained the base of the mighty Campbells of Glenorchy for 150 years. It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and is open to the public in summer.

McCaig's Tower and Battery Hill is a prominent tower on Battery Hill overlooking the town of Oban in Argyll, Scotland. It is built of Bonawe granite taken from the quarries across Airds Bay. Built in 1897 by local banker John Stuart McCaig, the aim of the tower was to provide work for local stonemasons and a lasting monument to the McCaig family. The gardens inside the tower are well maintained and are a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of town life in Oban.

A majestic country house which was located on the Isle of Bute, the most accessible island on the west coast of Scotland. This spectacular Gothic house was the ancestral home of the Marquess of Bute. This award-winning attraction featuring magnificent Victorian Gothic architecture and design together with contemporary craftsmanship, surrounded by 300 acres of gloriously maintained grounds and gardens.

Tarbert Castle is a ruined 13th-century royal castle of enclosure, which was extended in the 14th century, by the addition of an outer bailey with towers. The castle overlooks the harbour and although pre 14th century in construction, the tower dates back to 1494 and the visit of James IV to the Western Highlands. There are only a couple of standing walls left. The castle has a very commanding view of the water approaches.

Skipness Castle stands on the east side of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, near the village of Skipness. Together with the nearby Kilbrannan Chapel it is a scheduled ancient monument. It is impressive as it has managed to survive for more than seven centuries in a surprisingly intact state. The original structure was a basic two-storey Hall House surrounded by a small curtain wall.

St. Peter's Seminary is a former Roman Catholic seminary near Cardross, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has been described by the international architecture conservation organisation DOCOMOMO as a modern "building of world significance. It is one of only 42 post-war buildings in Scotland to be listed at Category A, the highest level of protection for a building of "special architectural or historic interest.

This is one of Charles and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh's most famous works, probably second only to the Glasgow School of Art. The House has been encased in a protective steel chainmail ‘Box‘ to protect it from the elements. Visitors are now able to get a unique perspective of the House from the walkways of the Box, as well as being able to visit the interior of the House. In 1982 the house was donated to the National Trust for Scotland.