DID YOUR ANCESTORS OWN A CASTLE? Castles of the Clans is a major new work on the clans and families of Scotland, and their castles, houses, seats and lands. The book includes strongholds owned by the monarchs and nobility, as well as the tower houses and fortified houses of smaller lairds and landowners. This is a companion volume to the widely acclaimed and hugely successful Castles of Scotland, which is going into its fourth edition in 2006. There were around 3,000 castles and fortified houses in Scotland, held by monarchs and bishops, dukes and earls, lords and lairds; often for hundreds of years. Many of these seats are now ruinous or even just sites, while others are still flourishing as visitor attractions, hotels, family homes or clan castles. The book is arranged alphabetically by clan or family name, and includes all the important families - Stewart, Douglas, Keith, MacDonald, MacLean, MacLeod, Campbell, Gordon, Forbes and Sinclair - and hundreds of smaller landowning families, such as Blackadder, Carruthers, Garden, Heron, Livingstone, MacAulay, MacFarlane, Oliphant, Porterfield, Riddell and Weir.
An important section covers royal castles and palaces, from the earliest times until the present day. Each entry begins with the name of the clan or family, and the associated branches, along with a small map locating their territories and main seats. This is followed by traditions, origins and stories of the clan, memorable events or characters, and ghostly or magical tales. Then there is a listing of all the associated castles and seats, with location, description, current ownership, access, whether the place can be visited or stayed at, and relevant websites and contact information.