Scottish Castles Association

Preserving the Past for the Future


SCA Spring Tour - Castles of the River Clyde Estuary

The backbone of the Scottish Castles Association year are the tours where we visit the castles that other tours never reach!

Each castle tour – one in spring and the other in autumn – is planned six months in advance. Accommodation, meals and transport are sourced, hosts are contacted and site visits take place, all in preparation for the big day.

In April 2016, 44 Scottish Castles Association members arrived at the Clyde Coast resort of Seamill – greeted by blue skies and snow-sprinkled hills – for two days of castle sight seeing. Not all of the group were Scots. Our French, German, Hungarian and, yes, even English members were treated to warm Scottish hospitality and enough Scottish sunshine to make the occasional hailstorm easily forgotten.

spring seamill
Our tour started in scenic Seamill

A dozen castles – from ruins to fabulous homes – were visited and the beautiful landscapes of the River Clyde estuary were admired by many – no surprise to those who are fortunate enough to live there. Scotland is a beautiful nation and the Scottish Castles Association outings are a grand way in which to explore our country and enjoy the company of fellow castle enthusiasts.

If you would like to join us on a future tour, join the Scottish Castles Association – click here to do it online – and you will be warmly welcomed. In the meantime, here are some pictures of the wonderful sights – and frights – we saw.

spring kilbirnie
Kilbirnie Castle fascinated our members and the resident horse was fascinated by us!
spring portencross
The sea girt Portencross Castle with the view from its battlements (hold on to your hats!)
spring knock
Knock Castle (quickly renamed Quirky Castle) under conversion to a holiday let (with a difference)
spring craigie rowallan
LEFT: Craigie Castle towers over one of our German members
RIGHT: The auld alliance is alive and well as French and Scottish members admire Rowallan Castle

Article by SCA member Brian McGarrigle.



Added: 29 Apr 2016 Updated: 18 Apr 2022
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