The thanage of Glamis was granted to Sir John Lyon by King Robert II in 1372 for services to the crown and four years later, Sir John married the King’s daughter, Princess Johanna Stewart. At the time there was a royal hunting lodge on the site at Glamis.

The castle as we know it today was built in the 1400s, with many alterations and additions over the centuries. Glamis has been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the birthplace of HRH The Princess Margaret, aunt to HM King Charles III.

Tours of the castle are guided, and you will hear tales of historical figures who have passed through the doors: Mary, Queen of Scots, James V of Scotland, “Bonnie Dundee” and the “Old Pretender” to the throne, James VIII, as well as some family members, such as the ill-fated Janet Douglas and the heiress Mary Eleanor Bowes.

Visitors can also dine in the Castle Kitchen at Glamis Castle.

The team at Glamis look forward to welcoming you to the castle, gardens and grounds.

Opening Times:
Castle, Gardens, Shop and Restaurant:

19 March to 31 October 2025
Monday to Sunday – 10am to 4.30pm

Entry Fee:
Adult – £18.50 (Castle, Gardens and Grounds)
Child (5-16 years) – £11 (Castle, Gardens and Grounds)

Adult – £9.50 (Gardens and Grounds)
Child – £6 (Gardens and Grounds)

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Red Castle stands on high ground overlooking Lunan Bay, on the North Sea coast. Only a part of the fifteenth century rectangular tower, and the 2-metre (6.6 ft) thick east curtain wall remain.

The castle is clearly visible from the A92 road and the Edinburgh to Aberdeen line. The remains are those of the 15th-century keep, and the surrounding wall, or enceinte, which may date from the 13th century.  A midden below the castle is continually eroding, yielding a number of artefacts now in the Montrose Museum.  The castle is protected as scheduled monument.

The property was forfeit during the reallocation by Robert the Bruce who in 1328 gave the castle to the Earl of Ross. The castle is referred to as rubeum castrum (Latin for Red Castle) in deeds of 1286, referring to its burnished red sandstone, typical of this area.

Please note: Access to this site is restricted.

Following a recent mound landslip in March 2021 at Redcastle, Angus Council surveyed the historic site and concluded that the recent slope failures between the north-eastern corner of the Redcastle tower and the bank of the Lunan Water present a present danger to the public, should there be further more catastrophic landslips, or should these landslips lead to the collapse of the Red Castle tower. As a consequence, safety fencing and warning signage has been erected and Angus Council are liaising with the landowner.

Access from the bank of Lunan Water is to be avoided. Get the best views of Red Castle Ruin from the Estuary at Lunan Water. Flying drones over and around Red Castle is not permitted without prior authorisation from the Red Castle landowner and should be avoid during the breeding season of the fulmars who nest in the ruin from early January to late September.

Note: location of the pin on Google Maps is a guide only.

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It took 13 years to complete and the precision shows in the fine details. Joseph Enzer’s plasterwork in the saloon is masterful – classical tableaux and family emblems rise thickly from the walls and ceilings with filigree flourishes. Throughout the house, hand-stitched woolwork and embroideries by Lady Augusta FitzClarence, daughter of William IV and actress Dorothy Jordan, are equally impressive.

Step back in time and be shown round the house by costumed characters. In the kitchen, see how the house was at the forefront of technology with a labour-saving clockwork spit to make work easier for the cook and her staff.

The recently renovated Courtyard, housing part of the Angus Folk Collection, uses innovative modes of display to show the stories of Angus.

Finally, step into the wildlife-rich outdoors, where beautiful formal gardens are surrounded by acres of Montrose woodland.

Visitors can also enjoy a bite to eat at Erskine’s Café at House of Dun, or enjoy an overnight stay at House of Dun’s self catering apartments.

If you’re looking for a wedding venue that combines timeless elegance with stunning natural beauty, the House of Dun is the perfect choice, with a variety of spaces to suit your wedding style, whether you want an intimate gathering or a large celebration.

Opening Times (House, Shop, Cafe, Gardens & Angus Folk Museum):

28 April to 28 September
Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 4.30pm

29 September to 21 December
Thursday to Sunday, 10.30am to 4.30pm

The estate is open daily throughout the year, from 8am to 8pm.

Entry Fee:

Adult – £17
Concession – £13.50
Family – £38.50
One adult family – £33.00
National Trust for Scotland Members – Free

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Guided tours of the castle explain the history of the house, the collections of furniture, paintings and displays of fine needlework, photographs and memorabilia. Examples of fine plasterwork and trempe l’oeil are also on show.

Snowdrops in Spring and bluebells in May carpet the woods and wild garden. At its best in July, a highlight of Dunninald is the walled garden. Set a short walk from the house, at the end of a beech avenue the walled garden is south facing with a curved wall, and planted with traditional mixed borders, vegetables, soft fruits, fruit trees and a greenhouse.

Groups are welcome throughout the year, by prior arrangement.

Opening Times:

Gardens:

1 May to 31 August 2025
Sunday, Monday & Tuesday – 1pm to 5pm (no booking required)

Castle:

10 to 18 May 2025
Guided tours daily at 2pm and 3pm (booking advised)

12 to 27 July 2025
Guided tours daily at 2pm and 3pm (booking advised)

Advance booking advised by telephone on 01674 672031 or by email to visitorinformation@dunninald.com.

Entry Fee:
Tickets are payable on arrival – £12 adults, under 16 free.
Gardens only (no pre-booking required) – £5, under 16 free.

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The stylised walled garden was created in 1604. Resplendent with heraldic sculptures and carved panels, the architectural framework surrounding the garden is unique in Britain.

The garden also includes walled flower and nesting boxes and a delightful summer house.

Opening Times:
1 April to 30 September
Friday, Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 4.30pm (last entry 3.45pm)
Closed for lunch from 12.30pm to 1.30pm

1 October to 31 March
Closed

Entry:
Adult – £8.50
Concession – £6.80
Child (age 7 to 15) – £5.00

Accessibility:
There is a level, tarmac surfaced car park. There is an accessible bay. The castle is about 150m along a bound gravel path and then over grass. The visitor centre is accessed up a short ramp and has a small exhibition inside. A manual wheelchair is available. Ground level includes the kitchen, bakehouse and cellars. The courtyard is surfaced with cobbles. The tower house upper levels are up a stone spiral stair of 61 steps, with no handrail. The garden is about 120m from the visitor centre over a compacted stone path. There is a grass path through it.

See the venue access guide.

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The distinctive double Walled Garden at Hospitalfield has been redesigned by garden designer Nigel Dunnett. The scheme was developed to reveal the unique horticultural history of the site at Hospitalfield, which has been tended as a garden for over 800 years.

The Fernery at Hospitalfield was designed in 1872 by Patrick Allan-Fraser as a grotto-like building intended to house a collection of New Zealand tree ferns that were presented to him by Captain Peter Logan. This is the only surviving Fernery on the east coast of Scotland, and one of only four buildings of this type in Scotland.

Visitors can dine in the Garden Café at Hospitalfield.

Opening Times:

We offer a programme of guided tours of Hospitalfield House, the Walled Garden and the Mortuary Chapel in Arbroath’s Western Cemetery. Our volunteers focus on the 19th century story of the artist Patrick Allan Fraser and his wife Elizabeth and touched on the 20th century and the beginning of the art school.

Tours of the House, Garden and Memorial Chapel are available April to October. Please note there is no public access to Hospitalfield House outside of the tours. Book your tour on the Hospitalfield website.

Accessibility:

Hospitalfield House is a Victorian house over several floors with wide staircases and banisters in most cases. Some areas of the house, including the Music Room on the ground floor, are accessible by wheelchair.

Hospitalfield Gardens and Café is wheelchair accessible via a ramp into the Gardens.

It is possible to access the ground floor level of the restored Fernery.

Hospitalfield would like to prepare with you for your visit and give any information which could help, so please do get in touch.

There is disabled parking available on site.

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The Davidson family lived here until 1857, when they embarked on their journey to America. It was in the USA that Scottish born William C. Davidson became a man, married another Scottish emigrant and it was his three sons, along with William Harley, who would go on to found the iconic Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The famous 10-foot by 15-foot shed was built by William C. Davidson in Milwaukee, USA, becoming the very first Harley-Davidson factory. The family are proud of their heritage and have visited the cottage in Scotland.

Come join us for the original ancestral home from which the family emigrated, carrying with them the spirit and heritage that would fuel their incredible success.

What Makes the Davidson Legacy Cottage a Must-Visit?

• Authentic Historical Connection – Journey back to a simpler era and connect with the very place the Davidson family called home before their pivotal move to America. The cottage is preserved as it would have been, offering a vivid picture of life without modern amenities like running water or indoor plumbing, highlighting the humble beginnings of a family destined for greatness.
• A Story of Passion and Preservation – Learn about the incredible dedication that saved this piece of history. The cottage was rescued and restored in 2008 by three passionate Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. Later, a three-year campaign involving amazing community efforts, UK government co-funding, and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company ensured its future, making it a testament to shared heritage.
• Support a Worthy Cause – Your visit directly supports the Davidson Legacy Cottage charity, helping to preserve this significant ancestral home for future generations and ensuring its unique story continues to inspire.

The Davidson Legacy Cottage has already welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world, eager to connect with the roots of this iconic American brand, and we look forward to welcoming many more.

Visitors can enjoy complimentary tea and coffee upon arrival and explore the cottage at their own pace, or opt for a guided tour to delve deeper into its history. Don’t forget to sign our visitor’s book and leave your mark on this historic site!

Opening Times:
Saturday & Sunday – 11am to 4pm
To arrange a visit outwith these times, please email hello@davidsonlegacycottage.com

Entry Fee:
Free

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The exterior of the castle is remarkably impressive. In part this is down to the setting in mountainous country where Glen Lee and Glen Mark meet to become Glen Esk. But it is also because you can get an impression, often lost in castles altered in later centuries, of just how daunting a building like this would have been to lightly armed attackers.

It is an impressive and interesting structure, and well worth the short detour from the busy path north to Mount Keen. Oddly for such a large castle, the growth of trees around the Water of Mark means it is remarkably invisible from the south east until you are very close to it.

The castle was built around 1526 by the Lindsay family, making use of an existing 14th century keep. It sheltered David Lindsay after he had killed Lord Spynie in Edinburgh (1607), following a long-standing quarrel; and also James Carnegie, Lord Balnamoon, who was being sought by government troops after the Battle of Culloden (1746).

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Brechin Castle stands proud on a massive bluff of rocks above the River Southesk on the site of a much older fortress belonging to the Scottish kings. The present house was last reconstructed in the early 1700′s and incorporates parts of the original Castle dating back to the 13th century. The building has evolved from a defensive role to its present great house style.

Opening Times:
See the website for details of opening days and times.

Accessibility:
Brechin Castle has level access to both the house and garden, as well as accessible parking and drop-off points. However, access within the house itself is limited, as stairs are required to reach the first and second floors on our guided tours. The garden also has limited accessibility due to its sloped terrain.

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