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Balgonie Castle, Fife
Location: Markinch, Glenrothes, KY7 6HQ (map and directions)
A semi-ruined structure on the south bank of the River Leven, Balgonie Castle sits near
Milton of Balgonie, 3.5km east of Glenrothes. Balgonie was built for Sir Thomas Sibbald of
Balgonie around 1360. The original keep dates from this era, but the remaining structures
were built in the 18th century. This includes a well-preserved guardroom and prison which
can be seen within in the castle. Balgonie Castle is an imposing 75-foot sandstone structure
arranged around a courtyard with a well in the middle and has the oldest tower still
standing in tact in the Kingdom of Fife. 
Balgonie Castle © David Johnston
History of Balgonie Castle The castle passed to Sir Robert Lundin in 1496, and
stayed in the family until 1624 when Balgonie was sold to two Boswell brothers who then
sold the castle in 1635 to the First Earl of Leven, Sir Alexander Leslie. It was at this time that
heavy refurbishments were undertaken, including a two-storey building, a northern range, a
watchtower and a park.
Balgonie was inherited along the lines of the Earls of Leven, until the 8th Earl of Leven sold
the castle in 1824 to Sir James Balfour, who did not maintain the castle well. David Maxwell purchased the castle in 1971, restored it, and sold it to Laird Raymond Morris who still owns
Balgonie and makes it available as a wedding location complete with a little chapel and the
Great Hall for dining and entertaining.
View Balgonie Castle in a larger map
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Other castles in Fife
Aberdour Castle
Balgonie Castle
Culross Palace
Dunimarle Castle
Falkland Castle
Falkland Palace
Fernie Castle
Fordell Castle
Halyard's Palace
Kellie Castle
Lordscairnie Castle
MacDuff's Castle
Myres Castle
Newark Castle
Pitreavie Castle
Pittarthie Castle
Ravenscraig Castle
Rossend Castle
Rosyth Castle
Scotstarvit Tower
Seafield Tower
St. Andrew's Castle
Tulliallan Castle
Wemyss Castle
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