While the Orkney Islands and the Shetlands probably have their fair share of remains, there are many more Neolithic sites across Scotland. Our recommendations will take you from the Western Isles to the north to the north east of Scotland. The majority of the sites predate Stonehenge and still, today, have an air of mystery about them.

Below are just a few you can visit on your Scotland tour or we can create a bespoke tour for you to visit as many as you would like.

Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Clava
Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Clava

The Clava Cairns, near Inverness, are estimated to be around 4,000 years old and were built to house the dead. The cemetery remained a sacred place in the landscape for centuries, and provides many clues to the beliefs of Bronze Age society. This would have once been part of a larger complex. Two parts of the complex, Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava, are open to the public. The sites contain a range of prehistoric burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel.

Calanais Standing Stones
Calanais Standing Stones

The Calanais Standing Stones are situated on the Isle of Lewis. They are one of Scotland’s most magnificent and best-preserved Neolithic monuments. Marvel at the extraordinary cross-shaped setting of stones erected 5,000 years ago. They predate England’s famous Stonehenge and were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. These are an absolute must see on your Scotland tour.

Kilmartin Glen Standing Stones
Kilmartin Glen Standing Stones

Over 5000 years of human history can be traced across the Kilmartin valley. Kilmartin Glen is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. There are at least 350 ancient monuments, of which 150 are prehistoric. Of particular interest are chambered cairns, round cairns, cists, standing stones and rock carvings. These Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, together with the stone circle at Temple Wood and the standing stones at Ballymeanoch are all part of the ritual landscape of Kilmartin Glen.

Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circles
Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circles

Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circle is one of the best examples in Scotland of a monument type known as a recumbent stone circle and are only found in north-east Scotland. They’re defined by a ring of upright stones, with a massive stone slab laid on its side (recumbent) between two upright pillar stones – usually in the south-west arc of the circle. The Stone Circle is a complex funerary and ritual monument with a long and varied history of use, which likely began in the late Neolithic period.

Tomnaverie Stone Circle
Tomnaverie Stone Circle

Tomnaverie is a recumbent stone circle, a kind of monument found only in north-eastern Scotland. Its’ characteristic feature is a large stone on its side, flanked by two upright stones. These are usually found on the south or south-west arc of the circle. The stone circle surrounds a burial cairn dating to about 4,500 years ago. The site appears to have seen use as late as the AD 1600s. The surrounding area is littered with remains of stone circles and burial cairns. Well worth a visit.

Glenelg Brochs - Dun Telve
Glenelg Brochs – Dun Telve

Explore two 2,000-year-old broch towers (Dun Telve and Dun Troddan) which are located in a beautiful glen – Gleann Beag. What is unusual about them is that they are so close together, just 500 metres apart. They are noteworthy for their design and scale. Dun Telve still stands to more than 10 metres in places. Dun Troddan is shorter, at 7.6 metres, but is better preserved. Both are a testament to the quality of the builders.

Machrie Moor Stone Circle and Standing Stones
Machrie Moor Stone Circle and Standing Stones

This rich archaeological landscape includes stone circles, standing stones, burial cairns and cists. There are also hut circles and an extensive field system. All date to between 3500 and 1500 BC. The stone circles were preceded by elaborate timber circles on exactly the same sites. They were associated with religious activities dating back around 4,500 years. A really interesting place to include on your Scotland tour.

Grey Cairns of Camster
Grey Cairns of Camster

On a windswept moor stand two of the oldest stone monuments in Scotland – a pair of Neolithic tombs which were built more than 5,000 years ago. They have been reconstructed in modern times and the Grey Cairns of Camster provide a fascinating insight into Neolithic funerary practices. The monument consists of a long cairn and a round cairn. The long cairn has two internal chambers and the round cairn a single chamber with three compartments.
The passages are pretty low so there’s a chance you will end up with muddy knees!

Whaligoe Steps
Whaligoe Steps

Whilst not Neolithic, the Whaligoe steps have a really interesting history. They are close to the Grey Cairns of Camster and can easily be included on your Scotland tour.
The Whaligoe Steps are 365 steps (although there is a current debate about how many there actually are) that descend to what was a naturally formed harbour between two sea cliffs.
The steps were once used by fisherwomen to haul up the creels of herring which were landed at the harbour beneath. Crews of women, some in their early seventies, would gut the fish and would carry them up the steps in baskets. They would then be taken, on foot, to be sold in Wick, some 7 to 8 miles away.

To include any of the above on your private tour of Scotland, just get in touch.

When people think of Scottish castles, Edinburgh and Stirling are first to mind. However, there are many, many more to discover. Below is a small selection of Scottish Borders Castles that are a ‘must see’

Floors Castle - Pipe Band
Floors Castle – Pipe Band

Floors Castle is the largest inhabited castle in Scotland and family home of the 11th Duke of Roxburghe. It was built for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe in 1721. What you see is an evolving story of a house and gardens with impressions left by succeeding generations
From the spectacular Victorian Walled Garden with glasshouses, herbaceous borders and a formal Millennium Garden, to woodland and riverside walks, there is so much to discover.

Borders Castles - Thirlestane Castle
Thirlestane Castle

A magnificent 16th-century castle set in a quiet meadow landscape on the outskirts of Lauder in the Scottish Borders.
The historic seat of the Earls and Duke of Lauderdale, Thirlestane is one of the oldest and finest inhabited castles in Scotland. Since 1590 it has been home for the Maitlands.

Tantallon Castle
Tantallon Castle

Climb to the battlements of the last of the grand medieval castles and marvel at its scale. Set high on a cliff edge and featuring a massive red sandstone curtain wall, Tantallon Castle was home to the Red Douglas dynasty.
View the artifacts and imagine the clashes with the Crown that left their mark on this family seat. The mighty stronghold was finally abandoned after more than 300 years, when it was besieged for a third time – by Oliver Cromwell’s army.

Dirleton Castle
Dirleton Castle

This magnificent fortress–residence served three successive noble families over 400 years. It was badly damaged in Cromwell’s 1650 siege but Dirleton’s fortunes were revived by its new owners in the 1660s.
The Nisbet family built a new mansion house nearby to live in and made the picturesque castle ruins the central feature in their new designed landscape. They also breathed new life into the splendid gardens, now home to the world’s longest herbaceous border.

Smailholm Tower
Smailholm Tower

Visit a place that inspired Sir Walter Scott. Ancestors of the great romantic novelist had called the tower home. Scott learned the power of border ballads as a young infant living on the estate.
Take in the completeness of the 15th-century laird’s residence – the four-storey tower house remains roofed and floored. See the foundations of the outer hall and kitchen next to the tower.

Borders Castles - Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle

A wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements make Caerlaverock the epitome of the medieval stronghold. Learn all about its turbulent history as a castle caught up in border conflicts.
It’s fairytale appearance means the castle is also a popular filming location. Caerlaverock features in The Decoy Bride, a romantic comedy starring David Tennant and Kelly Macdonald.

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Below is a small selection of the incredible Scottish castles found on the west coast of Scotland. From the Isle of Skye to the islands to hidden castles on the mainland, there is something for everyone.

Scottish Castles - Castle Stalker
Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker is a picturesque castle surrounded by water located 25 miles north of Oban. The castle is privately owned but we do run a limited number of tours each year – contact us for details.
Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been the site of a Fortalice (a small fortified building). It belonged to the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320. The MacDougalls lost their title after their defeat by King Bruce at Brander Pass in 1308 but regained it for a period after 1328. In about 1388 the Lordship of Lorn passed to the Stewarts, the lands including Castle Stalker.
Learn more on one of our Scottish castle tours.

Scottish Castles - Castle Tioram
Castle Tioram

The ruined Castle Tioram (pronounced Cheerum) is locatedon the rocky tidal island, Eilean Tioram (the Dry Island), where the waters of Loch Moidart & the River Shiel meet.
The castle can be reached on foot across the tidal causeway, but there is no access to the interior because of the risk of falling masonry.
Though hidden from the sea, the castle controls access to Loch Shiel. It is also known to the locals as “Dorlin Castle”

Scottish Castles - Duart Castle
Duart Castle, Isle of Mull

The position of Duart was well chosen, it is sited on a high crag at the end of a peninsula jutting into the Sound of Mull. It commands the channel between Mull and the mainland, entrances to Lochs Linne and Etive and the neck of the Firth of Lorne as it meets the Sound of Mull.

The Keep was built by Chief Lachlan Lubanach Maclean and on the vunerable landward side is 29 feet (9m) high and 10 feet (3m) thick. The walls facing the sea are less thick ranging from 5 to 9 feet (1.8m to 2.4m).

Scottish Castles - Kilchurn Castle
Kilchurn Castle

Kilchurn Castle was a fortress, a comfortable residence and later a garrison stronghold, and contains the oldest surviving barracks on the British mainland. Its five-storey tower house dominates the complex, with a lower hall, courtyard and barracks below.
Kilchurn Castle was built in the mid-1400s, and it remained the base of the mighty Campbells of Glenorchy for 150 years. After the first Jacobite Rising of 1689, Kilchurn was converted into a garrison stronghold, but was abandoned by the end of the 1700s.

Inveraray Castle
Inveraray Castle

Inveraray Castle is the 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.
An Inveraray Castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400s, although the impressive castle we know today was inspired by a sketch by Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard in the 1700s.

Scottish Castles - Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan is recognised as one of the most iconic images of Scotland all over the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that this Scottish castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish Highlands.
Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.

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The Highlands of Scotland are steeped in history. Let us take you to some the finest castles in Scotland. You will step back in time as we visit some of the oldest castles in our hidden gems tours.

Blair Atholl Castle Perthshire
Blair Atholl Castle Perthshire

The earliest known part of the present castle dates from 1269 and is known as Comyn’s Tower. The original tower had an extension added to it by the 3rd Earl in 1530 to form a Great Hall (the present Dining Room) over a series of vaulted chambers below.
Over 19 generations, the Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl have backed winners and losers, fallen in and out of political favour, won battles and lost them. They have almost all, in one way or another, left their mark on Blair Castle.

The story of Blair Castle will take you from Mary, Queen of Scots to the Civil War. From the Act of Union to the Jacobite cause and the disaster of Culloden. From the Isle of Man to Queen Victoria’s love affair with the Scottish Highlands and her presentation of colours to the Atholl Highlanders.

Castle Menzies
Castle Menzies

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

The Castle was the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 500 years. Situated in a strategic location, it was involved in much of the turbulent history of the Highlands. During the second Jacobite rising the Castle first hosted both Bonnie Prince Charlie, who rested on his way to Culloden in 1746 and then, just four days later, the Duke of Cumberland, son of the British Monarch and commander of the Government forces.

Cawdor Casle
Cawdor Casle

Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century, built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. An ancient medieval tower built around the legendary holly tree.
It is still home to the Cawdor family to this day. The castle is lovingly filled with beautiful furniture, fine portraits, intriguing objects and amazing tapestries the Castle.

We believe Cawdor Castle is a truly extraordinary place. Whether you are exploring one of the three gardens, adventuring in Cawdor Big Wood or putting on our nine-hole golf course, we hope Cawdor Castle will fill you with happy memories.

Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. It is also one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s. It was once home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland.
Dunrobin Castle is located on the east coast of the Northern Highlands. It overlooks the Moray Firth, just north of the villages of Golspie and Dornoch.

Brodie Castle
Brodie Castle

Acres of gentle Moray countryside surround the rose-coloured Brodie Castle, ancestral home of the Brodie clan for over 400 years, although their family seat has been here since the 12th century.
See how changing times altered the castle’s shape and purpose. The impenetrable 16th-century guard chamber is flanked on one side by a cosy 17th-century wing and on the other by a sprawling Victorian extension.

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Probably the most famous castles in Scotland are Edinburgh and Stirling however, there is a multitude of other castles waiting to be discovered. Let us take you to some of the most stunning castles in the East of Scotland that you won’t visit on an average Scotland tour. Below are some ideas of the castles we can visit.

Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle

Glamis Castle in Angus has been the ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372, inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and birthplace of HRH The Princess Margaret.

Dunotter Castle
Dunotter Castle, Stonehaven

This dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over.

St Andrews Castle
St Andrews Castle

Explore a castle caught in the Protestant Reformation struggle for hearts and minds. St Andrews Castle was a bishop’s palace, a fortress and a state prison during its 450-year history.

Falkland Palace orchard and castle
Falkland Palace orchard and castle

Falkland Palace & Garden provides a unique opportunity to explore a royal ‘pleasure palace’ with a Victorian twist.

One of Falkland’s most famous royal residents – Mary, Queen of Scots – was enchanted with the palace, and took advantage of Falkland’s vast estate to pursue falconry and hunting, while also enjoying a game of tennis in what is now the oldest surviving real (or royal) tennis court in the world.

You can visit Falkland Palace on our Edinburgh Shore Excursions or we can create a tour of Scotland with it included for you.

Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser

With a core that possibly dates back to the 1450s, Castle Fraser is a fabulous place to soak up the atmosphere of old Scotland. Later additions made the building into a huge fortified structure, one of the largest tower houses in the country.

Home of the Fraser family for more than 400 years, the castle is filled with family portraits, ornaments and mementos – all of which have their own colourful stories to tell about the lairds.
Discover quirky features such as the Laird’s Lug, hidden trapdoors, secret staircases and a spy hole!

Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle

Nestled on a picturesque hillside, the elegant pink tower of Craigievar Castle is spellbindingly beautiful, sure to enchant children and adults alike.

Begun in the Scottish Baronial style around 1576, this iconic tower house is among the best preserved and the most loved in Scotland; its exterior remains virtually unchanged since William Forbes completed it c1626. Craigievar was a family home until the 1960s, creating a quirky blend of cosy interiors and rare antiquities within the ancient walls. You can admire an impressive collection of artefacts and art, including Raeburns, armour and weapons.

Fyvie Castle
Fyvie Castle

Come and revel in the surrounds of the 800-year-old Fyvie Castle, in the heart of Aberdeenshire. Everywhere you look you’re met with fascinating collections of arms and armour, elaborate furniture, delicate porcelains and impressive tapestries. But Fyvie’s charms also spread into the otherworldly; for Fyvie is ‘blessed’ with two curses and a resident ghost.

Out in the grounds the grandeur continues, with a picturesque lake and an unusual glass-roofed racquets court.

Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie’s 800-year-old history. But stories aside, we do know William the Lion was at Fyvie around 1214 and later Robert the Bruce and Charles I were among its royal guests

Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle

Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and set within its own glorious gardens, Crathes Castle is every inch the classic Scottish tower house
The Burnett family, who lived in the castle for over 350 years, had roots in the area dating back to 1323 when Robert the Bruce granted them nearby land. Alexander Burnett built the castle in the 16th century, an intricate maze of turrets, towers, oak panels and painted ceilings, many of which survive beautifully to this day.
Inside you’ll find a labyrinth of cultural history, from family portraits to fine antique furniture. The walled garden is a wonderful jungle of history, split into eight sections that encompass every green delight imaginable a sculpted topiary, soft herbaceous colours and modern exotic blooms. The massive yew hedges are thought to have been planted as early as 1702.

Braemar Castle
Braemar Castle

A forbidding exterior conceals 12 authentic rooms charmingly furnished as though the chief of Clan has just stepped out. Dig deeper and discover a turbulent past which echoes the story of Scotland over the past 400 years.
The Castle’s original owners, the Earls of Mar were among the earliest rulers of Scotland and their power continued down the centuries. In 1628 the 2nd Earl built Braemar Castle as a base for his hunting excursions to his lands in the Braes of Mar but also to remind the local population who was in charge.
With visitors ranging from Queen Victoria to the present Royal family, the Castle’s guest list reads like a roll call of who’s who. Stories abound about the colourful residents and visitors and when you’re hearing authentic stories from local residents, you know you really are experiencing authentic Scotland.

Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848. Although it remains largely the same as it was in Queen Victoria’s reign, successive Royal owners have followed the initiative of Prince Albert in making improvements to the estate.

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Neolithic Scotland – the Orkney Islands

Much is made about the scenery, the castles and the food of Scotland but Scotland also boasts some of the most amazing Pictish stones and Neolithic remains from the annals of history. Strange designs and symbols adorn these relics which no-one has yet managed to decipher….perhaps you can!

Below are just a few you can visit on your Scotland tour or we can create a bespoke tour for you to visit as many as you would like.

First stop is the Orkney Islands……

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
Maeshowe Chambered Cairn

Be amazed by one of Europe’s finest chambered tombs, built some 5,000 years ago. Incredibly, the entrance passage to Maeshowe is aligned with the setting of the midwinter sun, so that the light illuminates the tomb’s interior.
Norse crusaders broke into Maeshowe in the mid-1100s, long after it had fallen from use. They too left their mark on the site: this time as graffiti carved in runes all over the main chamber’s walls.

Neolithic Scotland - the Orkney Islands - Stones of Stenness
Stones of Stenness Circle and Henge

Step back in time over 5000 years at what may be the earliest henge monument in the British Isles. The enormous Stones of Stenness are all that remains of a great stone circle on an ancient ceremonial site.
The Stones of Stenness today consist of four upright stones up to 6 metres in height in a circle that originally held 12 stones. The focus of the interior was a large hearth. The stones were encircled by a large ditch and bank, the form of which has been lost over time by ploughing.

Neolithic Scotland - the Orkney Islands - Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge
Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge

Walk among the enigmatic stones of one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in the British Isles. The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.
The Ring of Brodgar comprises of –
A massive stone circle, originally consisting of 60 stones – 36 survive today.
At least 13 prehistoric burial mounds.
A large rock-cut ditch surrounding the stone circle.

Skara Brae - Neolithic Village
Skara Brae – Neolithic Village

Long before Stonehenge or even the Egyptian pyramids were built, Skara Brae was a thriving village. Step back 5,000 years in time to explore the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe.
First uncovered by a storm in 1850, Skara Brae remains a place of discovery today. Visit a replica Neolithic house to see how its full interior might have looked. Then follow the path that overlooks the ancient buildings, imagining what life was like for the farmers, hunters and fishermen who lived here. The prehistoric houses still contain stone ‘dressers’ and box-beds.

Neolithic Scotland - the Orkney Islands - Brough of Birsay
Brough of Birsay

This very special tidal island is reached by a causeway. On the island you will explore Pictish, Norse and medieval remains. Brooches, rings and dress pins found on the Brough of Birsay would suggest that it was a Pictish power centre.
The Norse settled the island 200 years later, in the 9th century, but may have lived peacefully alongside the Picts. It’s still possible to make out the remnants of Norse houses, barns and even a sauna.

Neolithic Scotland - the Orkney Islands - Broch of Gurness
Broch of Gurness

Explore an icon of Orkney’s rich archaeological heritage. This impressive Iron Age complex is one of the most outstanding examples of a later prehistoric settlement to survive in Scotland.
Marvel at the completeness of Scotland’s best-preserved broch village.
View Iron Age artifacts on display in the visitor centre on site.

These are just a few of the many interesting historical sites on the island.
You can visit these sites on our Orkney and the North Coast 500 Tour.
There are many more sites on the island. We can arrange a personal tour for you to visit them. We can also visit the Shetland Islands where there is a multitude of Neolithic and Norse sites waiting to be discovered.