Balvaird Castle, Perthshire

Who could resist a sunny day like this?  Not us, so we went out for a drive, stopping first for a delicious lunch at Berryfields Café in Abernethy and then heading wherever our fancy took us round the Kingdom of Fife. 

We had some lovely views of reed beds in the Firth of Tay from Newburgh, a quick scoot round St Andrews, which was heaving with visitors so we didn't stop and then found our way on back roads to Balvaird Castle.  We've passed it before, but never visited, so it was time to investigate it further.

It's much more interesting than the photo would have you think, as this is just one side of it and there's a lot more round the back, although some of it in ruins.  A potted history follows for those who might be interested, but skip it if you're not!

It was built in 1500 for Sir Andrew Murray, who had acquired the lands round it on his marriage to the heiress Margaret Barclay.  The family was a prosperous one and the interior of the Tower House and the formal knot gardens were very stylish for the time.  Sir Andrew's successors in time became earls of Mansfield and the main branch became dukes of Atholl (who owned Blair Castle).  The family lived here until 1658 when they inherited the viscountcy of Stormont and the estates of Scone Palace.  It was fascinating to learn of the links between all those castles:-)