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.
21. Cambusnethan Priory
Cambusnethan Priory (or House) rests in North Lanarkshire and was designed by James Gillespie Graham. It was built in 1819 for the Lockhart of Castlehill family who were baronets with connections to Robert the Bruce. Thereafter it was acquired by Sir John Craig who made it his own after finding his fortune in Glasgow’s steel trade. | via WikiCommons
22. Bon Accord Baths
Bon Accord Baths was an indoor swimming pool located on Justice Mill Lane - which runs parallel to Union Street - in Aberdeen city centre. Originally opened in 1940 it was closed by Aberdeen City Council on March 31, 2008 as part of wider budget cuts happening at the time. | via WikiCommons
23. Old Penicuik House
Penicuik House stands as a shadow of its former self when it was an 18th-century grand estate house. The palladian mansion was built on the site of an earlier building by Sir James Clerk. Sadly, the site was devastated by a fire in 1899 which has led it to sit in ruin for over 100 years since. | OliveiraTP on Pixabay
24. Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle sits atop a rocky outcrop along the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail; 20 miles from Aberdeen and a mere 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven. The surviving buildings of the site are said to date largely to the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle is famous for playing an important role in the 18th-century Jacobite risings due to the strategic advantages of the location. | McRonny on Pixabay