Braemar Castle in Aberdeenshire

You're standing at Braemar Castle, just outside the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Start by taking in its shape. The castle rises five storeys and is built in an L-plan. Tucked inside the central tower is a round stair tower. Around it all runs an outer wall shaped like a star, with six sharp points. The walls are granite, covered in a rough coat of harling. The main entrance still has its original iron gate, and many windows are guarded by heavy iron grilles. This was never a fairy-tale castle. It was built to be defended.