I posted about the exterior of Doune Castle here.

Great Hall:-

There was also a slightly smaller hall.

Furniture and fireplace:-

Plaque:-

Staircase (to left in fireplace photo above):-

Doune Castle is in Doune, Stirlingshire. It has been used for filming Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander.

We visit Doune quite a lot as it has an antique centre near by. One day we took the opportunity to have a look at the castle.

From access road:-

From approach path:-

Oncea again a building was shrouded in scaffolding when we visited:-

It’s possible to walk right round the outside of the castle, though the path dips a bit:-

Castle courtyard:-

Waterfall by Dunnottar Castle from approach path:-

Cliffs to south from approach path:-

Rocks below Dunnottar Castle:-

Cliffs to north and sea inlet, from Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven War Memorial on hilltop:-

Stonehaven War Memorial on hill:-

After our visit to Dunnottar Castle we took a footpath which (eventually) leads to Stonehaven. This afforded more views of the northern cliffs:-

And of the Castle looking back:-

Northern cliffs again:-

Cistern in courtyard. This ensured the castle’s water supply:-

Cistern from upper floor of main building:-

Interior (with windows):-

Window seat:-

View from a window:-

Sundial and Lintel:-

Sundial and coat of arms information board:-

Fireplace. Inscribed, “In commemoration of the defence of the honours of Scotland Sep 1651 – Aug 1652 by George Ogilvy of Barras, Governor of Dunnottar and of the help given by his wife Elizabeth Douglas and her kinswoman Anne Lindsay.” Scroll down for the story.

Part of Restored Ceiling (Regi et Regno):-

Restored ceiling (In Defens):-

Castle buildings:-

Small window in above:-

From sea end of site:-

Courtyard area from outside its wall:-

Remains of chapel:-

Interior of chapel:-

Remains (with arch; garden area in foreground):-

Garden area with buildings beyond. (Stonehaven War Memorial on hill in background):-

Buildings (chapel to right):-

Late afternoon shadows (sea beyond):-

Dunnottar Castle lies just south of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. We had been meaning to visit there for some time but it wasn’t till January last year we finally made it.

Dunnottar Castle from approach path:-

As luck would have it we visited the National Gallery of Scotland shortly after and saw this stunning painting of the castle by Waller Hugh Paton:

As you can see it is perfectly situated from a defensive point of view, as it is perched on a rock poking out into the sea.

Castle entrance:-

Pattern in Stones on path leading up to castle:-

There’s a small tunnel like construction to go through before you reach the interior and the castle buildings:-

I posted photos of the exterior of Auckland Castle/Palace and of its chapel here.

Proceeding from the chapel into the Palace proper you come into the impressive Bishop’s Throne Room:-

Fireplace and painting:-

Ceiling:-

The Castle/Palace interior has been updated/redecorated over the years and some of the older fixtures and fittings have been kept.

Old wallpaper:-

Fireplace, chairs and table:-

Fireplace tiles:-

I can’t now remember if this stained glass window was in the chapell or elsewhere:-

Eventually the route through the Castle takes you to the Dining Room where the Zurbaran paintings are kept.

Dining Room:-

Dining Room linoleum:-

Dining Room Ceiling:-

Zurbarans Information Board:-

The last of the rooms accessible to the public is the 1930s study of the then bishop:-

Outbuildings looking back towards Castle:-

Outbuildings as seen from east:-

Chapel?:-

The prominence on which the Castle and Priory stand made it an ideal point to place military defences.

Remains of World War 2 gun emplacements:-

World War 2 artillery piece on wall beyond old graves:-

The gun itself:-

We visited Tynemouth again in December 2019 and this time had a look round the Castle and Priory.

Priory ruins from entrance:-

Tynemouth Castle (entrance to complex) looking back from Priory:-

Main structure of Priory:-

More ruins:-

From seaward side:-

Stained glass window on small chapel:-

The chapel feels quite cosy inside. Stained glass window:-

More stained glass:-

Tynemouth Priory and Castle are the most prominent (former) buildings in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear.

It stands on a promontory overlooking the mouth of the River Tyne:-

On our first visit, in June 2019, we did not enter the premises.

Tynemouth Castle as seen from Tynemouth town. The Priory is unseen behind the castle in this view:-

From northwest, Priory to left:-