7 castles in Fife you have to visit

Updated August 2018
​Castles have always fascinated me and being a Scottish travel blogger I visit a lot! I love wandering through the tunnels of castles in Fife, climbing the spiral staircases, searching for engravings on the walls, imagining the stories and the lives of the inhabitants who once waltzed in the great halls, baked bread the kitchens, and played hide and seek in the gardens. I love imagining what the rooms once looked like, the brightly coloured tapestries hanging on the walls, the dark furniture, the smokey kitchens. 

Everyone loves a good castle don't they?
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There are several castles in Fife, some are romantic ruins, some are almost in one piece. Some have recreated rooms to give you an idea of how they once looked, others you just have to use a little imagination...

Balgonie Castle

Near the Milton of Balgonie and 2.2 miles east of Glenrothes in Fife Balgonie Castle is a quirky and unique place to visit. Now owned by the Laird of Balgonie, Raymond Stanley Morris and his son Stuart Morris of Balgonie, this castle has a long and rough history. Building began in the 14th century with the Sibbald family who built the main tower house and fortified courtyard and was added to over the years, like many Scottish castles, by the families who took over the castle. Sir Robert Lundie, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland added a two story building to the east of the main tower. Sir Alexander Leslie (who became Lord Balgonie and Earl of Leven), John Leslie (7th Earl of Rothes) and James Balfour, grandfather of Arthur Balfour who became prime minister in 1902 all owned and lived in the castle but it was the latter who was unable to save it from decay. 
Years passed, the roofs were removed for tax purposes and the vandals got in and it wasn't until 1971 that restoration began. The current owners are painstakingly repairing the castle and the chapel and main tower are now complete. It was used in the filming of the first season of Outlander and also the film, The Fairy Flag. You can now visit the castle and have a tour and you can even get married there! The Laird himself is a gifted artist and his art work is present all around the castle, making it pretty unique. The passion of the owners to restore this beautiful castle to its former glory is inspiring to see. Check the website before you visit to make sure it's open, at the moment (from April 2018) the castle is open Wednesday to Sunday 1pm - 5pm. 

Markinch, 
Glenrothes,
KY7 6HQ
Website here

Aberdour Castle

The partially ruined Aberdour Castle, in the vIllage of Aberdour, is one of the two oldest standing castles in Fife and indeed Scotland. The oldest part of the castle, the Hall House, was built around 1200. Over the next 400 years a succession of at least 14 families expanded the castle and it's therefore a fascinating mixture of architectural styles. The east range, built around 1635, is the only part of the castle still roofed and has a stunning 17th century painted ceiling in one of the rooms. 
The castle fell into decline after the Jacobite rising in 1714 when there was a fire. The then owners, The Mortons, bought the adjacent Aberdour House and the castle was never lived in again. One of the castles' many owners was James, the Earl of Morton, who was granted ownership in 1564. He was involved in planning a rebellion against Mary, Queen of Scots which resulted in the murder of her secretary David Riccio. He was forced to flee to England but returned within the year and Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate and was imprisoned. He returned to his castle and built the beautiful terraced gardens which you can view today. He was made Regent of Scotland, for a young James VI but was later implicated in the murder of the Queen's husband Lord Darnley and was executed in 1581. This is a fascinating castle to explore, you can see  a fallen down tower, you can see the refurbished room in the main building, you can peek inside the beautiful Doocot which was used to store birds for the lords to eat in winter, you can relax in the manicured gardens and admire the views of the new Queensferry Crossing or nip next door to explore the ancient graveyard and quint little church. Look out for the gravestones, they are pretty unique!
The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Aberdour,
Fife,
KY3 0SL

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​Falkland Palace

Before Mary Queen of Scots was forced to flee to England she spent a lot of time in Falkland Palace, which for over 200 years was the country residence of the Stuart monarchs. It was Mary's father and grandfather, James V and James IV, who transformed the old castle into a stunning Renaissance royal palace. The Stuarts spent a lot of time in Falkland, practicing falconry, hunting and playing tennis. The tennis court is still there today making it the oldest real tennis court in Britain. Mary is said to have caused quite a stir when she played wearing gentleman's breeches! 
The Palace is now under the care of the National Trust for Scotland and the east quarter is now in ruins except for the extremely picturesque main wall. The south quarter is fully restored with a beautiful chapel, royal bed chambers, a library and a whole host of original tapestries and period furnishings. There is also another impressive painted ceiling. The grounds are large and worth a trip alone. The orchard is perfect for a picnic and some wildlife spotting and there is a renaissance style physic garden packed full of medicinal and culinary herbs. The village of Falkland is worth exploring too, look out for the ancient marriage lintels above the doors and if you are an Outlander fan you'll spot a few familiar sites. 

East Port,
Falkland,
Cupar,
KY15 7DA
​Website here

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St Andrews Castle

By 1200 St Andrews Castle was the main residence of the bishops and archbishops of St Andrews. It suffered badly though, during the Wars of Independance, and a new castle was built in 1400. David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay was imprisoned here by his uncle Robert, Duke of Albany before he was taken to Falkland Palace, where he died of starvation and neglect. 
Years of wars, sieges and high tides have resulted in what is now a largely ruined but intriguing castle. What's left is a fascinating glimpse into Scotland's medieval and slightly grisly past. There is a terrifying 22ft bottleneck dungeon, an underground mine and countermine and a brilliant visitor centre run by Historic Scotland. The castle looks over Castle Sands and has really good views out over the coast. Also worth visiting is the nearby St Andrews Cathedral. If you can only visit one castle in Fife, consider this one, purely because the town itself is so stunning and there is so much to see. See what else you can see here 

The Scores,
St Andrews,
KY16 9AR
​Website here

Ravenscraig Castle

Building began on Ravenscraig castle in 1460 by James II for his wife Queen Mary of Gueldres. It was one of the first to be built in Scotland to withstand cannon fire, but unfortunately James II was killed before it was completed - by cannon fire at the siege of Roxburgh Castle! Mary continued to build in his memory but when she died soon after the castle was passed to their son, James III. That was the end of the Royal connection as he sold the land to William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness shortly afterwards. It was a fair exchange though as it meant Orkney and Shetland now belonged to Scotland! 
The castle is looked after by Historic Scotland but is unmanned. You can enter the outside courtyard via a drawbridge but only the outside of the castle is viewable. Because part of the walls have collapsed though, you can see a lot of the inside and let yourself imagine how life was. In the courtyard you can see the amazing views over the Firth of Forth, as well as many of the foundations for rooms such as the kitchen and bakehouse. This is probably my favourite castle as it's in my home town and played in the grounds many times with my friends growing up. When I was young you could actually  climb the staircases and stand on the top floor but access is restricted now, how I wish Historic Scotland would give this beautiful castle some attention.

Kirkcaldy
KY1 2QG
​Website here
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Culross Palace

Although this Palace isn't technically a Palace but a Grand House, it's the distinctive original mustard yellow and dark wooden shuttered windows which make it so appealing. It's also the village of Culross itself, a slice of 17th century life. There are original buildings, narrow alleys and cobbled streets letting you imagine life back then with ease. The palace doesn't have any royal connections except for a visit by King James VI in 1617, it was actually built by merchant Sir George Bruce between 1597 - 1611. He was a successful trader and many of the palace's features were collected from ships coming from abroad such as Baltic pine and Dutch tiles. It has been restored, as has the entire village, by the National Trust for Scotland. The 17th century garden, which is tucked around the back of the building, has been restored using plants and herbs which would have been used during the Jacobite period. It is beautifully laid out with wicker arches and raised beds. The village itself sits on the coast looking out over the Firth of Forth. You should really take time to explore the whole village as it's like a time capsule with cobbled streets and brightly coloured town houses.

Culross,
KY12 8JH
​Website here

​Dunfermline Palace

Dunfermline Palace grew around the impressive Abbey which has stood since 1070. King Malcolm III married Queen Margaret here and it was her their son David who, as a tribute to his mother, bought up extensive land around the Abbey and granted a wealth of money. The domestic building were destroyed during the Wars of Independance and were rebuilt with help from Robert the Bruce, who was buried here in 1329. The development continued until 1560 when mobs destroyed the Abbey during the reformation. In 1587 James VI took control of the land and gifted it to his wife, Queen Anne of Denmark. She hired William Schaw to turn the Abbey Guest House into a palace fit for a queen and gave birth to her three sons, including Charles I, while in residence. Charles I was the last king to be born in Scotland. It was last visited by a royal in 1651 when Charles II stayed before the Battle of Pitreavie. 
The Abbey and Palace are well worth a visit, the Abbey itself is still in use and the palace is taken care of by Historic Scotland. There is a visitor centre, a museum and gorgeous views over Pittencrieff Park and out over the Firth of Forth. Not a lot of the palace remains but the impressive south wall, the kitchen and the cellars are there to explore. 
The Palace and Abbey are part of Dunfermline's Heritage Quarter and the brand new Museum and Art Gallery finishes the area of perfectly and has a gorgeous cafe with huge windows and a balcony so you can take some good photos. 

114 Queensferry Road, 
Rosyth,
Dunfermline,
KY11 2Q7
​Website here

These are by no means the only castles in Fife, there are plenty more to find. These are my favourites though, for one reason or another. Which castles so you like to visit in Fife?
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