Scotland has thousands of castles and strongholds (or ‘Clan seats of power’) that act as striking reminders of our country’s Clan history and how powerful it was in shaping the Scotland we live in even today.
Estimates show that Scotland has around 500 clans and historically they all had their own territories and castles and some like Clan Campbell, historically one of the most powerful Highland clans, had multiple settlements that can still be accessed today.
In appreciation of Scottish heritage and our country’s dark history, here are 17 famous castles in Scotland, the clans that historically occupied them and where they can be found.
17. Clan Kennedy - Culzean Castle
The Kennedy Clan is a branch of the Lords of Galloway who were reportedly once the most powerful family in the ancient kingdom of Carrick, and Culzean Castle acted as the former home to the chief of Clan Kennedy, the Marquess of Ailsa. You can find it in the south west of Scotland just south of Ayr. Photo: Yvonne Stewart via Canva Pro