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18 November 2024
Historic landmarks, heritage sites & buildings in Scotland
Scotland's history is not recorded in books but written in stone. Scattered across the country are remnants of a turbulent and dramatic past; relics of eras in which clans reigned, armies clashed and Neolithic people erected stone shrines to forgotten gods. This is Scotland's heritage, preserved in ancient landmarks that still enthral today. With a combination of imagination and knowledge these sites come alive with echoes of bygone times allowing visitors to envisage what it was like when these grands buildings were in their heyday.
Many of these protected landmarks are dispersed across the west coast islands, thankfully CalMac's extensive network of routes and vessels makes visiting these famous sites a treat. Check out some of our top picks for historical landmarks.
The Blackhouse, Lewis
We start with the relatively recent, a 19th century thatched house on the Isle of Lewis. The Blackhouse offers a unique insight into the intricacies of island life, conserving an authentic Hebridean residence that included both people and animals. Preserved just as it was finally abandoned in the 1960s, envelop yourself in the lived history of hard-working islanders. Take a deep breath, smell the singular aroma of peat burning in the open hearth and imagine yourself living this bucolic existence that feels very far away indeed from our current high-speed lives.
Mount Stuart House, Bute
Also built in the late 19th century but very different in style, appearance and application is the stately wonder that is Mount Stuart House on the beautiful Isle of Bute. A gothic manor with sprawling gardens, it is the very definition of ornate. Mount Stuart is a glorious throwback to a time of prosperity and wealth (for some), where guests were entertained in grand rooms and dined beneath glittering chandeliers. Take a tour and discover the luxurious surrounds of the Marble Hall and the grand library before roaming the immaculately maintained gardens. A little slice of Victorian splendour, easily accessible with CalMac.
Iona Abbey, Iona
A further step back in time takes us to the remarkable Iona Abbey. Some parts date back to the early 13th century, but this is a building that feels timeless and otherworldly. A place of spiritual worship, it was originally founded by St Columba in AD 563. Since then it has survived Viking attacks, religious reformations - and the Scottish weather - to remain standing as a destination for pilgrims. Said to be the birthplace of the world-famous Book of Kells, the abbey is also home to several intricately-carved stone crosses that relate to the era of early Christianity.
Dunvegan Castle, Skye
The imposing profile of Dunvegan castle makes a huge impression on first sight, its fortified outline silhouetted against the rugged hills of Skye. A visit here is a true step back in time. As the longest continuously occupied castle in Scotland, it has many tales to tell within its historic walls. A grand entrance hall gives way to a range of stately rooms, filled with a cornucopia of historically significant objects from the building's illustrious past. Chief amongst them is the famous Fairy Flag, a banner that, when unfurled in battle, would galvanise the MacLeod clan to victory - often against unfavourable odds.
Giant's Graves, Arran
A somewhat overlooked historical gem, the Giant's Graves on the magical Isle of Arran is an enigmatic landmark overlooking Whiting Bay towards the South of the island. The graves are in fact the remains of two Neolithic chambered tombs. These cairns were constructed sometime between 4,500-5,500BC. Excavation of the sites returned pottery, flint blades, arrowheads and fragments of cremated bone - marking this as a place of significance to early civilisation. You can visit the graves as part of a walk to nearby Glenashdale Falls.
St Clement's Church, Harris
Referred to as 'the grandest medieval building in the Western isles', St Clement's is a stunning example of living history in the Hebrides. Dating from around 1520, the church has seen many restorations over the centuries and is now in the hands of Historic Environment Scotland who have conserved its rich heritage for future generations. The church is set dramatically against the sea on the southern tip of Harris. A sacred burial site for the chiefs of the MacLeod clan, the remarkable tomb of the church's founder, Alasdair 'Crotach' MacLeod, is built into the recess of the church itself, a permanent spectator on the travelers visiting this stunning landmark.
Kinloch Castle, Rum
Very different from the medieval castles dotted around Scotland, Rum's Kinloch Castle is unique, quirky and often controversial. Built in 1900 as the luxurious retreat and hunting lodge of John Bullough, a textile-mill owner from Lancashire, the castle's ostentatious design has split opinions ever since. It's kitschy interior usually does the same: dazzling rugs, vivid tapestries and a museum's worth of curious artefacts populate the house. Kinloch Castle remains a relic of a time of industrial entrepreneurship, unchecked ambition and questionable taste - everything you need for a great day out.
Kilmartin Glen, near Oban
Located down the road from the main CalMac port in Oban, Kilmartin Glen is a true trip into Scotland's ancient past. With at least 5,000 years of human history written into its soil, the glen is a treasure trove of monuments, many of them prehistoric. There are numerous cairns, standing stones, carved rocks, stone circles, forts and castles spread across the geography; including five burial cairns comprising a 'linear cemetery'. The absolute highlight is the 23 sculpted stones that inhabit Kilmartin's church graveyard (dating from the 900s to the 1600s’), and the Temple Wood stone circle. A hotbed of Scottish history on the west coast.
Kisimul Castle, Barra
For sheer drama it's hard to beat Kisimul Castle on Barra (or adjacent to Barra to be accurate). Located on a rocky islet off the coast, it is only accessible by boat. That doesn't stop it dominating the landscape, its hulking presence rising from the water. Known as the 'castle in the sea', it dates from around 1400 and was built by clan MacNeil as both a fortress and ancestral home. Since the days of clan conflict are behind us, the current chief has leased the property to Historic Scotland for 1,000 years. The rent? An annual sum of £1 and a bottle of whisky. A special deal for a special castle.
Calanais Stones, Lewis
Not just locally renowned but internationally famous, the Calanais Standing Stones is a fascinating landmark of Neolithic history. Predating Stonehenge, these monolithic stones are arranged in a cross-shape, and are shrouded in mystery. Thought to be a site of ritual activity or astronomical observation, the stones were erected some 5,000 years ago and have weathered storms and modernisation. At five metres tall and made from three hundred million-year-old rock, the stones were deliberately placed by the Neolithic inhabitants of the island. It’s a feat of natural engineering that still impresses today. You are free to walk among the stones, a mystical trip into a past that we still do not fully understand.
We hope you’ve been inspired by this small sample of the amazing historic landmarks that Scotland has to offer. Each of the islands on the CalMac network has its own unique heritage and sites just waiting to be discovered. Bring the joy of history into your future by booking your own personal voyage into Scotland's illuminating past.
