Elcho Castle, Perth, United Kingdom

Elcho Castle is located a short distance above the south bank of the River Tay. It consists of a Z-plan tower house, with fragments of a surrounding wall with corner towers. The fastle was built on the site of an older structure about 1560, and is one of the best surviving examples of its date in Scotland. A large portion of the Castle is accessible, although floors in some rooms have fallen, and much of the building can be walked through. The wall-walk is accessible at two points.

The property is still owned by the family of the original builders, the Wemyss family (the style of the heir to the Earl of Wemyss is Lord Elcho), though it has not been inhabited for some 200 years. It has nevertheless been kept in good repair - one of the earliest examples in Scotland of a building being preserved purely for its historical interest. It is managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.

The castle is open to visitors throughout the summer. There is an entrance charge.

An apple- and pear-tree orchard adjoining the castle has been replanted in recent years, and a 16th-century 'beehive' doo'cot (Scots for dovecote) survives nearby.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Maryann Hannaway (5 years ago)
My play ground in the summer holidays in the 70's. Live and miss this place.

Ian Haining (5 years ago)
Very interesting Castle and you can explore it as you please. Bare on the inside and missing some floors but it only makes it more interesting. Well worth a visit.

Rebecca Hutto (6 years ago)
In my opinion, this was the best castle that I visited during my stay. I am not a fan of the castles that are all dolled up and restrictive on where you can go and touch and take pictures. This castle was as is. No frills. It was so interesting seeing the castle bare and using my imagination as to how things were. So glad we stopped! Staff was very friendly.

Lewis Pickering (6 years ago)
Utterly fantastic! Hidden gem. Staff were the best and kind. There are very few places that give you so much access. So please be respectful so they can keep it that way. One day I will be happy to bring my children here.

Red Phil (6 years ago)
A lovely little and surprisingly complete castle of the early gunpowder era. Actually a defensive tower house castle rather than a manor house. No interior decor but a good feel for what the page must have been like in its day.

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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Elcho Castle

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