Scottish Castles

Local information

Drummond Castle, Perthshire

Location: Muthill, Crieff, PH7 4HZ (map and directions)

Just south of the small Perthshire town of Crieff lies Drummond Castle in the Muthill Parish. The castle was built by Sir John Drummond of Cargill on a prominent rock known as Gask Ridge, which itself stretches several kilometres across Perthshire.

Drummond Castle © Guillaume Piolle

History of Drummond Castle

Robert the Bruce granted lands in Strathearn to Sir Malcolm Drummond, who fought valiantly by his side at Bannockburn in 1314. Drummond Castle, however, was not built on the land until 1491 by Sir John Drummond, whose daughter was rumoured to be the lover of James IV. As Margaret stood in the way of an alliance between Scotland and England through a marriage of James IV to Margaret Tudor, the Drummond daughter and her two sisters were murdered.

Next to the original keep is a gatehouse which was built in 1629-1630 in order to control access to the courtyard and formal gardens, which were laid out in an Italian Renaissance style from 1828- 1838 by Charles Barry. The gardens at Drummond Castle have since been the major focal point of the property. One very special feature of the garden is a 17th century sundial which has 50 faces and tells time in several of Europe’s capitals.

Drummond Castle © Roy Douglas

Today Drummond Castle serves as a residence, though the Drummonds themselves, as Earls of Perth, have their home at Stobhall.

Map and directions

Other castles in Perthshire