Elcho Castle

Overview

2024 Update - Elcho Castle is currently closed for safety inspections of the castle structure (1 February 2024)

Elcho Castle is one of Scotland's best-preserved Tower houses from the 1500's, but it tends to be overlooked by most tourists as it is located on a dead-end road in a rural corner of Perthshire that is bypassed by all the main roads. It is only a 15-minute drive from the centre of Perth and, although it was never the site of any significant historical events, it is entertaining to visit as there are lots of rooms, corridors, spiral staircases, nooks and crannies to be explored. Possibly the best castle in Scotland for kids to play hide and seek.

Although the castle looks quite forbidding and does have defensive features such as gun loops, it was primarily built to serve the role of a comfortable country retreat for Wemyss family. It is easy to appreciate how life at Elcho castle would have been relatively luxurious and enjoyable for its occupants. For a start, the reception hall of the castle is dominated by an uncommonly wide staircase that climbs through a sweeping bend to arrive at the Great Hall on the first floor. It is on this level that you also find the bed chamber and private quarters of the Lord of the Castle. The upper floors of the castle were for other family members and are generously proportioned by 16th century standards. Other refinements include a south-facing turret room that would have served as a sitting room for the "lady of the house" and there are several charming little rooms (maybe intended as studies) in the roof space of the castle. These quirky little rooms are connected by rooftop walkways which provide great views over the Perthshire countryside.

Elcho Castle appears to have been built with the intention of impressing visitors and there is a separate "Guest wing" of the castle where all the rooms have their own latrines. Not many 16th century castles could make that claim. We counted 8 latrines, but there may have been more as the castle has such a labyrinth of corridors and stairways (3 separate staircases) that you can easily become confused about where you've been and where you haven't. Some of the floor levels in the guest wing have gone, but a few of the supporting joists are still in place so you can visualise how the interior would have been partitioned. Despite these missing floors, the castle really is a very complete structure and was re-roofed in the 1830's by descendants of the original Wemyss family that built it.

Unfortunately, the original walled courtyard and ornamental gardens have disappeared, but an orchard has been replanted in the same location that the original castle orchard would have been sited.  

If you are passing through Perth and have an hour or two to spare, we'd recommend that you consider a visit to Elcho Castle. Whilst it hasn't played a significant role in any events that shaped Scottish history, it is an interesting insight into how a wealthy Scottish family would have lived in the 16th / 17th century. But best of all, it's a great castle for a game of hide and seek.

Save money on visiting this attraction by buying an Explorer Pass