- Heritage

Blair Castle

Nestling like a white jewel in the dramatic Highland Perthshire landscape, Blair Castle has a centuries old history as a strategic stronghold at the gateway to the Grampians and the route north to Inverness. Famous as the last castle to be held under siege in 1746, Blair Castle is the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and the home of the Atholl Highlanders, Europe’s only remaining private army. More than 30 rooms are on display, full of treasures and alive with the characters and personalities of their former occupants. Highlights of the visit include: the magnificent ballroom bedecked with 175 pairs of antlers; the superb China Room featuring more than 1700 individual pieces and an ornamental Victorian armoury housing a targe used at the Battle of Culloden. There are also paintings by Sir Edwin Landseer, fine mortlake tapestries and plasterwork by Thomas Clayton. Gardens & Grounds Blair Castle is at the hub of a breath-taking historic landscape most of which was laid out in the 18th century and features a beautiful 9 acre walled garden with landscaped ponds, a peaceful wooded grove home to some of the countries tallest trees, a ruined Celtic kirk; a red deer park and a whimsical gothic folly. Children will also enjoy the castle’s woodland adventure playground…

Drummond Castle Gardens

Scotland’s most important formal gardens, among the finest in Europe. A mile of beech-lined avenue leads to a formidable ridge top tower house. The magnificent Italianate parterre is revealed from a viewpoint at the top of the terrace, celebrating the saltaire and family heraldry that surrounds the famous multiplex sundial by John Milne, master mason to Charles I. First laid out in the early 17th century by John Drummond, 2nd Earl of Perth and renewed in the early 1950s by Phyllis Astor, Countess of Ancaster. The gardens contain ancient yew hedges and two copper beech trees planted by Queen Victoria during her visit in 1842. Shrubberies are planted with many varieties of maple and other individual ornamental trees including purple-leaf oaks, whitebeam, weeping birch and a tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera. The tranquility of the gardens makes them the perfect setting to stroll amongst the well-manicured plantings or sit and absorb the atmosphere of this special place…

Aberdour Castle

This 12th century fortified residence was extended by the Douglas family. The gallery on the first floor gives an idea of how it was furnished at the time. The castle has a 14th century tower extended in the 16th and 17th centuries, a delightful walled garden and a circular dovecote…

Arbroath Abbey

The substantial ruins of a Tironensian monastery. Arbroath Abbey holds a very special place in Scottish history due to its association with the ‘Declaration of Arbroath’. In this document Scotland’s nobles swore their independence from England in 1320. The visitor centre includes an exhibition on the declaration…

Branklyn Garden

Small garden with an impressive collection of rare and unusual…

Broughty Castle

A delightful castle originating from the 15th century and spectacularly positioned overlooking the Tay estuary. It was adapted over the centuries to reflect advances in warfare and defence. The castle houses a museum with fascinating displays on changing life, times and people of Broughty Ferry and about its wildlife…

Castle Campbell

Known as ‘Castle Gloom’ this spectacularly sited 15th century fortress was the lowland stronghold of the Campbells. Stunning views from the parapet walk…

Royal Burgh of Culross

Relive the domestic life of the 16th and 17th centuries at this riverside Royal Burgh. The old buildings and cobbled streets create a fascinating time warp for visitors. Close your eyes and you can almost hear the calls of medieval street vendors selling their wares and the clang of hammers on metal as the Hammermen of Culross fashioned the famous girdles…

Dunfermline Abbey & Palace

The remains of the Benedictine abbey founded by Queen Margaret in the 11th century. The foundations of her church are under the 12th century Romanesque-style nave. Robert the Bruce was buried in the choir. Substantial parts of the abbey buildings remain, including the vast refectory…

Edzell Castle And Garden

The beautiful walled garden was created by Sir David Lindsay in 1604. The ‘Pleasance’, a delightful garden, has walls decorated with sculptured stone panels. The towerhouse dates from late 15th century. Mary Queen of Scots held a council meeting here in 1562 as her army marched north against the Gordons…