Restoration of castles in Scotland

The restoration of castles and tower houses in Scotland, generally by private individuals and families, has been taking place for over a century and is of major significance in the field of historic buildings in the country, sometimes a subject of controversy.

Since the 1950s, two hundred and fifty Scottish castles and tower houses have been restored, around a hundred from a derelict or "roofless ruin" state. Most of these have been converted for private occupation; others, such as Castle Menzies, have become tourist attractions. The former have tended to be of the tower house type, which are a manageable size to convert and live in. A further 150 castles that are still roofed have undergone refurbishment.