Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle looks like it belongs in the Loire Valley rather than the Scottish Highlands. This magnificent fairytale château, with its towering conical spires and gleaming white façade, rises above formal French gardens that sweep down to the sea. It's the largest house in the northern Highlands and one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses, with parts dating back to the 1300s.

The castle has been the seat of the Earls and later Dukes of Sutherland for over 700 years. The current romantic appearance dates from extensive remodelling in the 1840s by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament. Inside, 189 rooms contain fine furniture, paintings, and treasures accumulated over centuries, while the museum houses an eclectic collection including Pictish stones and big game trophies.

The highlight for many visitors is the daily falconry display in the garden, where eagles, hawks, and falcons demonstrate their hunting skills against the spectacular backdrop of castle and sea. The formal gardens themselves are modelled on those at Versailles, offering a surprisingly exotic contrast to the rugged Highland landscape beyond the walls. Dunrobin represents aristocratic Scottish life at its most grandiose.