Photo: Castle Menzies by Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
Castle Menzies stands just west of Weem, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, and has served as the ancestral seat of Clan Menzies for centuries.
The castle sits close to the site of the earlier Weem Castle, destroyed around 1502.
Many of its rooms are left unfurnished, letting visitors see the building's structure and stonework directly, and you can wander through most of the castle without a guide.
It is covered by Historic Houses membership, and the grounds include a walled garden and a small medieval kirk holding the Menzies family mausoleum.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
The castle replaced the earlier Weem Castle, destroyed around 1502, and has remained linked to the Menzies Baronets and the chiefs of Clan Menzies ever since. The walled garden here once had a national reputation and is tied to the family's most celebrated member, the botanist Archibald Menzies, whose story features in the castle's exhibitions.
Architecture
Castle Menzies is a Z-plan tower house dating from the 16th century, with upper floors reached by a spiral staircase, a common feature of Scottish castles of this type.
Worth knowing
Prince Duleep Singh, the last Maharajah of the Sikh Empire, stayed at the castle in the 1850s, and a display on his visit is being developed further. The castle also houses an exhibition on Clan Gregor alongside its own Clan Menzies displays.
Gardens & grounds
The walled garden, still under restoration, was once renowned across Scotland and produced the botanist Archibald Menzies.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Pitlochry Rail Station (8.2 miles)
Typically open to visitors from around April to October; check the official website for current dates and times.
Nearby properties
St Mary's Church
View St Mary's Church on heritage mapLinn of Tummel
View Linn of Tummel on heritage mapThe Hermitage
View The Hermitage on heritage mapDunkeld
View Dunkeld on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Castle Menzies there are 2 historic properties, including 2 churchs.
Within 10 miles of Castle Menzies there are 5 historic properties, including 2 churchs and 2 historic sites, across Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland sites.
Within 20 miles of Castle Menzies there are 16 historic properties, including 5 historic buildings, 4 churchs and 3 historic sites, across Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Historic Houses sites.
Facts
A clan seat where you can roam almost every unfurnished room freely, plus a Sikh royal connection few expect.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Perthshire, Scotland
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