Scotland, in general, is packed with castles, all of which have a fascinating history, but none more so than those located in the Angus area around the city of Dundee.
Glamis Castle
One of the most famous castles in Scotland, or in the UK as a whole, is Glamis Castle. There has been a royal residence on the site for more than 1,000 years, and in 1034 it was the scene of the murder of King Malcolm II of Scotland.
The death of the King was fictionalised by William Shakespeare in the play Macbeth, although, in reality, Macbeth was not connected to the castle at all. The original hunting lodge was replaced in the 14th century with a castle when it was in the hands of the Lyon family.
The family name later changed to Bowes-Lyon, and the castle was redesigned in the 15th century. In recent years it has become known for being the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and in 1923 she married the Duke of York, who became King in 1936.
Brechin Castle
The grounds of this castle have belonged to the Maule-Ramsay family ever since the 12th century, and in the early part of the 20th century, the castle officially became the seat of the Ramsay clan.
Over the years, it has played host to several kings and other influential figures. The formal gardens here date to the early part of the 18th century, and a number of modifications were made to the building in the 19th century.
There are now guest lodges on the grounds that can be rented for holidays and there are features such as a visitors’ centre and park. The castle is open to the public for part of the year.