Restoration of castles in Scotland

The restoration of castles and tower houses in Scotland, generally by private individuals and families, has been taking place for over a century and is of major significance in the field of historic buildings in the country, and sometimes a subject of controversy. This article largely focusses on 20th century restorations, in particular the 'restoration movement' of the latter part of the century, but there are examples of earlier restorations dating back to the 19th and 18th century.

Since the 1950s, two hundred and fifty Scottish castles and tower houses have been restored, around a hundred from a derelict or "roofless ruin" state. Most of these have been converted for private occupation; others, such as Castle Menzies, have become tourist attractions. The former have tended to be of the tower house type, which are a manageable size to convert and live in. A further 150 castles that are still roofed have undergone refurbishment.