Cawdor Castle, Nairn

£13.50 per adult for an audio guided tour through this 1400s+ fully furnished castle plus gardens. It's a decent amount for your money and an overall beautiful experience. Only a bit off the highway, Cawdor Castle is in the hamlet of Cawdor, where you follow the signs (our Google Maps led us astray) for parking a light walk from the castle itself - which you won't see from the highway or road there! Parking is free. Concessions just 1 pound less. You buy the tickets at a booth outside and are given audio tour devices. There are a limited number of (free) lockers available as backpacks and purses are not allowed. There is also a bathroom at this entrance point but nowhere else. Once inside, you follow the signs to go through the several open rooms in order. You hear the history of the several times expanded keep and castle as well as its architecture and decor choices over the centuries and up through the 1970s. You end with the dungeon, then kitchen, then gift shop. There are two gardens on site to explore as you wish, each of which was still beautiful given the mid-August time of year. While the castle has many stairs and no lift, the gardens are flat. There are so many castles to see across the UK, but Cawdor's castle and gardens had character and was well-received by our group.

What a wonderful experience and beauty. We walked the Castle and drank delicious hot chocolate to wam up. Then walked the grounds enjoying the natural beauty of the well manicured lawns and the playground. Then walked along the whispering creek and back for a light lunch of delicious mushroom soup. Everything was amazing.