Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is steeped in intrigue and history.

Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century, built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. An ancient medieval tower built around the legendary holly tree.

The imposing, rectangular tower-house consisted of four storeys and a garret with one entrance to the outside world. Positioned on the upper first floor level; the perfect design to keep out unwelcome visitors. Look out for the original position of the Keep, walled up now and originally reached by wooden stairs.

Still home to the Cawdor family to this day and lovingly filled with beautiful furniture, fine portraits, intriguing objects and amazing tapestries the Castle has evolved for over 600 years.

We believe Cawdor Castle is a truly extraordinary place. Whether you are exploring one of the three gardens, adventuring in Cawdor Big Wood or putting on our nine-hole golf course, we hope Cawdor Castle will fill you with happy memories

  • cawdor castle front view john paul
    cawdor castle front view john paul
  • castle from front lawn
    castle from front lawn
  • cawdorcastle
    cawdorcastle
  • tapestry bedroom guillaume de laubier
    tapestry bedroom guillaume de laubier
  • the slate garden guillaume de laubier
    the slate garden guillaume de laubier
  • Thorn-Tree-Room-Guillaume-de-Laubier
    Thorn-Tree-Room-Guillaume-de-Laubier
  • walled garden castle from gardeners shed
    walled garden castle from gardeners shed

Book this tour

Cawdor Castle features on our Scottish Castles and Loch Ness tour.

Book now.

Cawdor Castle features on our Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Inverness and Loch Ness tour.

Book now.

Reserve this Tour-…

Thistle Excursions are a bus tour operator which departs from Invergordon. This is the perfect location for visitors on touring cruise ships stopping in the Cromarty Firth at the port of Invergordon. Our Invergordon bus tours are the prefect way for tourists and sightseeers to get a true taste of the Highlands of Scotland. Our bus tours which leave from Invergordon feature some of the best Highland locations; Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Inverness, Beauly Priory, Black Rock Gorge, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Urqhuart Castle, Carnegie Whisky Cellar and Balblair Distillery. Check out our Highland bus tour destinations page to choose which sights you want to see. Our bus tours have been chosen to allow you to see the most iconic destinations featured in numerous films, TV shows and rich Scottish History. So if you are looking for the perfect sightseeing tour of the Highlands, Thistle Excursions is your tour operator.

We also offer tailormade bus tours of the Highlands from Invergordon and Inverness.

When booking your tour please choose carefully which castle you wish to visit. Either Cawdor, Urquhart or Dunrobin. You can visit one on your tour but when doing the Cawdor visit you will see Urquhart beside Loch Ness in the background, but you do not visit both.  Time does not allow.