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What is the largest privately owned castle in Scotland?

The biggest inhabited Scottish castle is actually Floors Castle, owned by the Duke of Roxburghe. Located in Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Floors Castle is a stunning architectural gem that the family lives in permanently.



Drumlanrig Castle, located in Dumfries and Galloway, is widely considered the largest privately owned "Great House" or castle in Scotland that is still used as a family residence. Often called the "Pink Palace" because of its distinctive pink sandstone, it is the historic home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. The castle features 120 rooms, 17 turrets, and four grand towers, housing one of the most significant private art collections in the UK, including works by Rembrandt and Holbein. While other structures like Floors Castle or the iconic Inveraray Castle are also massive and privately owned by Scottish dukes, Drumlanrig stands out for its sheer scale and its role as the centerpiece of a 90,000-acre estate. In 2026, the castle remains open to the public during the summer months, allowing visitors to explore its Renaissance architecture and vast gardens, though the family still maintains private wings, preserving its status as a lived-in monument to Scottish aristocratic history and architectural grandeur.

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