With a surplus of abandoned buildings and ancient ruins scattered throughout the country it is no wonder why Scotland has earned a reputation as a place rich in mythology and rumours of haunted locations. For example, Scotland’s castles - of which Visit Scotland estimates there were once as many as 3,000 - correspond to Scottish clans and remind us of our bloody history with hard-fought battles that forever shaped Scotland into what it is today.
The Scottish architectural legacy is one world-famous for good reason with other incredible examples of craftsmanship like our revered churches and influential Scottish figures like Charles Rennie Mackintosh. However, in the modern era many of these majestic buildings have been left to withstand the punishment of time without any sort of maintenance or repair, leaving a wealth of stunning architecture to perish.
That’s why we asked our Scotsman readers: “What abandoned building or ruin in Scotland would you like to see restored?" In response, we received a treasure trove of inspired nominations that we have collated into this list of twenty-five Scottish buildings that we would like to see restored to their former glory.
13. Old St Peter’s Church
Old (or “Auld”) St Peter’s Kirk is a parish church ruin located on Thurso’s Wilson Lane in the Caithness area. The charming building, which stands over 4 metres tall, dates back to the 1300s and it holds one of the few remaining medieval mercat crosses in Scotland. It was not only Thurso’s parish church but also the principal church of all of Caithness. | via WikiCommons
14. Linlithgow Palace
The ruins of this palace are located in Linlithgow town in West Lothian, approximately fifteen miles west of Edinburgh. The site - which was occupied as far back as 2,000 years ago during Roman times - was a principal residence for Scottish monarchs in the 15th and 16th centuries. | via WikiCommons
15. Melrose Abbey
Founded in 1136 by David I, this stunning rosy-hued abbey has inspired art and spiritual devotion for centuries. It was the first Cistercian Abbey in Scotland, located along the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders. The location is particularly well-known for acting as the final resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce. | via WikiCommons
16. Hartwood Hospital
This building was a psychiatric hospital and can be found near Hartwood village which sits adjacent to the town of Shotts. Originally titled the “Lanark District Asylum”, the hospital was designed by John Lamb Murray to be able to hold 500 patients and first opened in 1895 before eventually closing in 1998. | via WikiCommons