Castles near Forres -Brodie Castle -Cawdor Castle -Fort George- Duffus Castle

Brodie Castle - Cawdor Castle - Fort George

There are many castles in the NE of Scotland and surrounding area, the following is only a selection of the better known castles, more will be added here at a later date, when travelling by car from Forres it is easily possible to visit at least 4 of the ones mentioned within a days drive, along with other interesting places on the way.

For exact routes from Forres please use the AA Route Finder link to the left. These details including a map (when selected) can be printed out for your use.

1) Brodie Castle

Situated just off the A96 4.5 miles west of Forres, Brodie Castle is open to the public throughout the tourist season, explore the extensive gardens complete with picnic area, lake and woodland walks.

It contains fine French furniture, English, Continental and Chinese porcelain, and a major collection of paintings, including 17th-century Dutch art, 19th-century English watercolours and early 20th century works.

2) Cawdor Castle - official website

Situated between Forres & Inverness on the B9090 just off the A96, 14 miles from forres, 25 mins by car.
Cawdor Castle is romantically linked by Shakespeare with Macbeth. This superb Castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens, nature trails and woodland walks. Open to visitors.

3) Fort George -

official website
Situated between Forres & Inverness (about 15miles from forres) just off the A9. Following the 1746 defeat at Culloden of Bonnie Prince Charlie, George II created the ultimate defence against further Jacobite unrest. The result, Fort George, is the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain, if not Europe.

4) Ballindalloch Castle - official website

Situated off the A95 - 35 miles from Forres 1 hour by car.
Ballindalloch is one of the most beautiful and renowned castles in Scotland, privately owned one of the very few castles in Scotland to have been lived in continuously by its original family. The Macpherson-Grants who have resided there since 1546.

5) Duffus Castle - (Castles Ruins)

Located about 10 miles to the East of Forres on the B9012.
One of the finest examples of a motte and bailey castle in Scotland with a later, very fine, stone hall house and curtain wall. The original seat of the Moray family.

6) Castle Stuart

Situated just off the A96 about 15 miles from Forres, Castle Stuart is a 17th century Tower House with an interesing history. When Mary Queen of Scots came back to Scotland in 1561, after the death of her husband, the Dauphin of France, she gave this land to her half-brother, James Stuart, granted him the title 'Earl of Moray' and he ruled Scotland as Regent for her.
Accommodation (including ghosts !) is available if you dare !
visit the official - website

7) Urquhart Castle

Situated on the A82 between Inverness & Fort William, apporx 45 miles from Forres, 1 hour 15 mins by car.
This famous castle is built on a rocky promontory above Loch Ness, built principally as an observation post, and is now a haunt of would-be spotters of the famous Loch Ness Monster, a beautiful drive not to be missed.

8) Dunrobin Castle

For a nice day trip why not visit Dunrobin Castle, it is situated 75 miles from Forres on the A9, 1/2 mile north of Golspie. a 2 hour scenic drive from Forres by car.
A seat of the duke of Sutherland, it is picturesquely situated on the north-eastern shore of Dornoch Firth, Sutherlandshire.
Designed and decorated on a sumptuous scale with beautiful formal gardens.

There are many more castles in the surrounding areas that we will be including here at a later date.........so please check back.