The wonderfully triangular Caerlaverock Castle and its inner moat. Standing some seven miles south of Dumfries, it was built in the 1260s and 1270s to replace a slightly older castle whose traces can still be seen nearby. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dumfries/caerlaverock/index.html
The magnificent Dunnottar Castle on the Aberdeenshire coast south of Stonehaven. Probably a defensive site for two thousand years or more, no other Scottish castle comes close in terms of a sense of sheer brooding impregnability. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stonehaven/dunnottarcastle/index.html
“Sheffield Castle keeps revealing its secrets. As well as uncovering the impressive gatehouse and drawbridge pier, we have uncovered parts of the castle’s walls that were previously unknown."
Fushimi-Momoyama Castle (伏見桃山城) is on a hilltop in southeastern Kyōto, and not easily accessed, so very few Japanese or inbound tourists go there. It makes a good hike for the same reason. The #castle is a reproduction of the intended retirement residence of the national unifier Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but it was near the end of the turbulent Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), to which the castle contributed the Momoyama part of its name. Although I am mostly interested in the relatively peaceful palaeolithic to Heian periods, this castle is nevertheless elegant, as befits a predecessor of the Shōguns.
Q: Someone asked if I saw a reproduction of Hideyoshi’s gold-leafed tearoom.
A: Visitors aren't allowed in. There never seem to be staff there. The place has an unfortunate history!
Q: The Meiji Emperor's mausoleum is very close by. Why was this location chosen?
The original site was taken for the tomb of Emperor Meiji! The castle is now nearby.
A roofline with real character at one of our favourite Scottish castles, Elcho Castle, close to the River Tay a few miles south-east of Perth. The castle is believed to date back to about 1570 and was built by the Wemyss family. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/perth/elchocastle/index.html
Scalloway Castle, seen in dramatic light, was built to exercise control over Shetland in 1600. Its surroundings, once sea on three sides, have changed considerably since it was built and it is now right next to Scalloway's busy harbour. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/shetland/scallowaycastle/index.html
The newly opened Borl castle is worth visiting.
It was closed for more than 30 years, and now is partly renovated. Still a lot to do though.
Opened: a coffee bar, 2 halls, a chapel, an exhibition about rivers (Drava), outside wetland.
Also: you can see some free-range pigs at the road, near the castle.
The castle is famous because the English King Richard the Lionheart, who was returning from the Third Crusade, was held here in knightly custody from 1192 to 1193.
Edinburgh in sunset/sunrise mode.
A beautiful city, with fabulous architecture and endless history, there are endless photo opportunities here, especially in that golden hour.
It's has been a long, stressful year, I think we all need a nice golden landscape with a pensive panda in a bee costume in it. Available as a wallpaper at https://ko-fi.com/s/d79e9fdf46
Torwood Castle near Denny in the Falkirk council area. It was probably built in 1566 and today it remains remarkably complete, yet is surprisingly little-known and can be viewed externally only. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/denny/torwoodcastle/index.html
The imposing Castle Menzies near Aberfeldy in Perthshire. The castle had a complex history, both before and after it was built in the 1500s. For centuries it served as the stronghold of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/aberfeldy/castlemenzies/index.html
The Bass of Inverurie, standing within a cemetery at the southern end of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire: all that remains of a motte and bailey castle built by the Earls of Garioch in the 1100s and used by Robert the Bruce in May 1308. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/inverurie/bass/index.html
The magnificent "pink palace" of Drumlanrig Castle, north of Thornhill in Dumfries & Galloway. It was built between 1675 and 1697 around an earlier castle intended to control routes from the north and north-east into Nithsdale. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/thornhill/drumlanrigcastle/index.html