Castles of Scotland - Saltcoats

Saltcoats Castle, located about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) south of the village of Gullane in East Lothian, Scotland, is a 16th-century courtyard castle. The castle is a legally protected historic monument and is listed as a scheduled monument.

Saltcoats Castle comprises buildings arranged around a square courtyard enclosed by a defensive wall. Within the courtyard are the ruins of several buildings, including the castle chapel, fragments of whose walls survive to this day.

Saltcoats Castle was built in the 16th century by the Gilmour family as a defensive residence and was expanded and modernized several times over the centuries. In the 18th century it was sold to the Hope family, who carried out further modernization work.

Throughout its history Saltcoats Castle was the site of many important events, including social gatherings and family celebrations. In the 18th century it was a popular cultural centre, with concerts and balls held on its grounds.

In the 19th century Saltcoats Castle passed into private ownership and gradually fell into ruin. In the 20th century it was purchased by the National Trust for Scotland, which carried out partial restoration.