With springtime finally upon us, castles near Paisley are beginning to reopen to the public.

The surrounding areas have dozens of amazing sites, providing plenty of places for a family day out if the weather is good.

If you're looking for historic gems to explore near you, here are some of the most beautiful castles and estates open now.

The most beautiful castles and estates you can visit near Paisley

Here are some of the most beautiful castles near Paisley you can visit this spring and summer.

Crookston Castle

Opening times: April 1 to September 30 - Daily -  9:30am to 5:30pm (last entry at 5pm).

Description: Crookston Castle was built by the Stewarts of Darnley between the 14th and 15th centuries. It is the only surviving medieval castle in the City of Glasgow and stands as a reminder of the formally rural character of the area.

It is also where Mary, Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley were said to have met before marrying.

Bothwell Castle

Opening times: March 29 to September 30 - Open daily except on Sunday and Monday - 9:30am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm).

Description: Hotly contested during the Scottish Wars of Independence, Bothwell Castle was sieged with such hostility in 1301 that it was never completed to its original plan.

With its imposing donjon, it is one of Scotland's most impressive strongholds still standing today.

Newark Castle

Opening times: March 29 to September 30 - Tuesday to Saturday - 10am to 4:30pm (last entry 4pm).

Description: Once overshadowed by the nearby Clyde shipyards of Port Glasgow, the castle and its Renaissance details have been rediscovered in recent years.

The castle is well-known for its former owner Sir Patrick Maxwell, a powerful friend of King James VI of Scotland, who notoriously murdered two members of a rival family.

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Duchal Castle

Opening times: Always

Description: Described as a "gem" of a place to visit, the castle ruins are trickier to reach than some of the other locations on this list with limited parking and difficult terrain.

One visitor said of the 13th-century castle: "Despite it being overgrown with limited accessibility, the little that remains of Duchal castle can make you feel like you're connected to something ancient and forlorn in a way most castles don't."