Two Scottish castles have been ranked as “the most beautiful” in Europe by a notable travel outlet.

Eilean Donan Castle in the Highlands and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire featured in a must-see list of medieval buildings published by Brazilian travel guide Vegas Pelo Mundo.

Eilean Donan Castle prints can be ordered online . Original images of Eilean Donan Castle by David Rankin

Castles from seven countries feature in the top 10, with Culzean Castle ranking 9th and Eilean Donan Castle coming in at 10th place. Eilean Donan dates back nearly 800 years . After his defeat at the Battle of Methven, Robert the Bruce sought refuge within its walls in the 1300s.
Its breathtaking surrounding landscapes inspired the Disney film Brave to life, which focuses on Scotland’s intriguing ancient folklore. Although it looks crumbling from the outside, the castle has been reconstructed and is open to the public.

Eilean Donan Castle has appeared in several films , including the James Bond film the World is not Enough and Highlander but the castle was not a Game of Thrones film location . Eilean Donan Castle tours can be booked online or by phone / Whatsapp +447305294773 . The only Game of Thrones film locations in Scotland is Doune Castle .

Eilean Donan Castle is a stunning Highlands castle with a long and torrid history .

Eilean Donan Castle tours from Edinburgh are available 7 days a week.

Film location

The castle has featured in a number of films and TV series . The castle starred in an episode of the Avengers ( the sixties TV series, not the science fiction blockbuster ), in which Joanna Lumley made her debut as Purdy.
The castle was a location for the cult classic film Highlander (1986 ) Eilean Donan is the castle of the Clan Macleod , home to the Immortal Connor Macleod . Ramirez ( Sean Connery ) is Connor’s guide to the Highlands . In the James Bond movie the World is not Enough ( 1999) the castle is the Scottish HQ for MI6 . Bond is seen driving his Aston Martin DB5 over the bridge to the castle . In the film Loch Ness ( 1996 ) the castle was used as Urquhart Castle ( actually sited on the shores of Loch Ness ) . In Bonnie prince Charlie ( 1948 ) David Niven plays the Jacobite prince . The Master of Ballantrae ( 1953 ) starred Errol Flynn . The Bollywood blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ( 1998) was filmed outside the castle .

History of the castle

The castle was originally built in 1220 . In 1719 it was destroyed by 3 English frigates and it laid in ruins for nearly 200 years. In 1911 John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the castle and rebuilt it over a period of twenty years .

Game of Thrones Castle tours