Scottish Castles Association

A well-preserved tower in the care of Historic Environment Scotland is Balvaird Castle, sitting on high ground at the top of Glen Farg. It is a 15th century L-plan keep, with a main block and wing and a stair tower in the re-entrant angle. There is a later walled courtyard and gatehouse, and the remains of several outbuildings. The main block rises four storeys and has a corbelled-out parapet. The basement is vaulted, and there is a pit prison within the thickness of the walls. Above the gatehouse there was a chapel.

Among other features of this fine building is the arrangement of the garderobe flues, which all descend through a single vent, and are flushed by rainwater through an unusual arrangement of stone spouts on the roof.

Balvaird was a property of the Barclays, but passed by marriage to the Murrays of Tullibardine, later Earls of Mansfield, whose home is now Scone Palace.

CLAN CONNECTION - Clan Barclay, Clan Murray