#ABANDONED CASTLE RUINS IN SCOTLAND FREE#

Stories of malnourishment and physical abuse have surfaced as well with grotesque claims of inhumane treatment and conditions for those residing here. Intended as a top-class facility that could house up to 1200 patients and provide the best medical service in Britain, the reality became one of overcrowding and underfunding. The Castle building was constructed in the 1830’s but it was not until 1936 that it became the dreaded psychiatric institute for which it is now known. Found north of Glasgow just outside of Lennoxtown, the negative atmosphere and dread emanating from this place is truly chilling….despite the unexpected presence of Celtic’s state of the art training facility next door. In the same vicinity as Buchanan Castle, this former asylum holds every single bit of the unnerving fear factor that these old ruins embody. These lands passed from the Clan Buchanan to Clan Graham in the 17 th Century and to this day the Castle is technically seat of the Grahams. Its exterior walls have been consumed with creeping vegetation that would please Poison Ivy herself interiors are dealing with armies of shrubs, bushes and full-grown trees. Buchanan Castle is very much a case in point. She’s a powerful beast and isn’t the type to take some bricks and mortar as any sort of barrier to her Right to Roam – resulting in vibrant growths throughout. I’ve prepared more detail on this incredible saga here.Īs I’ve found with fascination during these wanders of mine, these ruins have undergone a full-on assault from Mother Nature.

#ABANDONED CASTLE RUINS IN SCOTLAND FREE#

He was promptly arrested and treated here and was never to be a free man again. The, increasingly marginalised, Deputy Fuhrer flew solo to Britain in 1941 – attempting a clandestine go at negotiating peace outwith his boss’ knowledge – but his plane eventually ran out of fuel and he had to parachute out, injuring himself in the process. Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s right-hand man, was the most famous patient – a quite astonishing thought. During World War Two it bizarrely served as a hospital and saw war wounded treated within its walls. It remained as a family home until 1925 before it was de-roofed (a common tactic that necessitates that no tax needs to be paid) in 1954. Built in classic Baronial style (complete with pointy wizard hat towers), my favourite of the architecture styles on show in this period, its head-spinning labyrinthine layout is something to behold. Lusciously set to the south east of Loch Lomond and to the west of Drymen, this mysterious mansion was constructed in the 1850s for the Montrose family by James Graham, 4 th Duke of Montrose. With Halloween upon us, there seems no better time to bring my recent findings together for an explorative look at some of my favourites to date.ĭiving right in, this place is amongst the most atmospheric of them all. Fascinating, beautiful and massively evocative wreckages litter Scotland on a scale that I had no appreciation of and that provide no end of spooks, intrigue and possibilities. This motte style castle was well known for its unique architecture which can still be appreciated throughout.If you have been following my activities on social media in recent months, you’ll likely have noticed that old, abandoned and derelict places have featured regularly. In more recent years, the castle has become the backdrop and inspiration to some of the world’s top writers and filmmakers.įurther inland lies Huntly Castle, once a baronial residence for five centuries and shelter to Robert the Bruce dating as far back as the 12 th century. Today, it’s an awe-inspiring ruin, looking over the roaring North Sea, making it one of Aberdeenshire’s most treasured viewpoints.Īnother ruin of significance is Slains Castle Resting on the edge of the outstanding Aberdeenshire coastline, the 16 th century castle ruin has long played a role in Scottish history. That iconic castle ruin you see in photographs, perched on the edge of a craggy cliff… that’s’ here!ĭunnottar Castle, found close to Stonehaven, perched on an impressive 440 million year-old clifftop, was once so mysterious it was attacked by Vikings, captured by William Wallace, visited by Mary Queen of Scots and even hid the Scottish crown jewels.

Our ruined castles are amongst some of most photographed iconic Scottish landmarks, and for good reason too.

If you’re looking for epic, breath-taking and unforgettable, you’ve come to the right place.

Abandoned castle ruins in scotland