Murthly Castle

Heritage Site in Perthshire

Scotland

Murthly Castle

Murthly Castle is a historic landmark located in Perthshire, Scotland. Situated on the banks of the River Tay, it is a prominent heritage site with a rich history that dates back centuries.

The castle, originally known as Murthly Tower, was built in the 13th century and has since undergone several renovations and expansions. It is a fine example of Scottish Baronial architecture, featuring turrets, battlements, and a stunning stone façade. The castle is surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens, which add to its picturesque appeal.

One of the most notable features of Murthly Castle is its extensive collection of ancient artifacts and artworks. The castle houses an impressive array of medieval armor, weaponry, and tapestries, providing visitors with a glimpse into the past. The interior is adorned with intricate woodwork and decorative plasterwork, showcasing the craftsmanship of the time.

In addition to its historical significance, Murthly Castle is also renowned for its stunning chapel. The Chapel of St. Anthony, located within the castle grounds, is a hidden gem. Dating back to the 15th century, it is adorned with exquisite stained glass windows and intricate carvings. The chapel is still in use today for weddings and other events.

Murthly Castle offers guided tours, allowing visitors to explore its fascinating history and experience its architectural beauty. The castle is also a popular venue for various cultural events, including music concerts and art exhibitions.

Overall, Murthly Castle is a captivating heritage site that showcases the rich history and architectural splendor of Perthshire. Its stunning castle, beautiful gardens, and historic chapel make it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and lovers of Scottish heritage.

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Murthly Castle Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.538/-3.503 or Grid Reference NO0739. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Cones, A9

The A9 is a strategic link between the Highlands of Scotland and the Central Belt. It runs 279 miles from junction 5 of the M9 at Polmont to Scrabster. Originally it ran from Edinburgh. Link

N Chadwick

A9, northbound

The A9 is a strategic link between the Highlands of Scotland and the Central Belt. It runs 279 miles from junction 5 of the M9 at Polmont to Scrabster. Originally it ran from Edinburgh. Link

N Chadwick

A9, northbound

N Chadwick

Signage - A9 northbound

Dave Thompson

River Tay

This photo shows the Caputh Bridge in the background looking downstream. The footpath this side of the river provides a much longer walk than that on the other bank.

frank smith

Northbound A9, Kingswood

The A9 is a strategic link between the Highlands of Scotland and the Central Belt. Running for 273 miles, it is the longest road in Scotland and the fifth-longest A-road in the United Kingdom. Historically it was the main road between Edinburgh and John o' Groats but its importance has been eclipsed somewhat in the south by the A90 across the Forth Road Bridge and the M90 motorway, which now links Edinburgh more directly with Perth, and the M9, which is now the main road between Edinburgh and Bridge of Allan.

David Dixon

Roadworks on the A9

The deployment of Orange traffic cones has temporarily reduced the northbound carriageway of the A9 to a single lane.

David Dixon

Traffic jam on the A9

On December 27th, inclement weather combined with the heavy traffic to cause a quite epic traffic jam on the A9. Several miles of traffic at walking speed around Dunkeld, just before one of the sections that has not been dualled yet.

Aleks Scholz

Jim's Bridge over the Gellyburn

A sturdy wooden bridge hand-built by a local with wood cadged from Murthly sawmill. It replaces a shoogly plank and encourages a wider variety of people to enjoy the circular walks leading to and from the River Tay.

Paul McLennan

Farina Mill, Gellyburn

All that remains of the Farina Mill, and Gellyburn's industrial heritage, is this wall and several sections of the sluices. The mill was built in 1858 to process potatoes (an abundant local crop) into flour, which was then exported via the goods yard at Murthly Station 2km distant.

Paul McLennan

Water Pump, Gellyburn

Last surviving water pump (although inoperable) in Gellyburn. Pumps such as this were the public water supply locally, right into the early decades of the 20th century.

Paul McLennan

Gates to the Lantern Drive, Gellyburn

Conical pillars like these are a feature of Murthly Estate's designed landscape. In this case they lead from the old Dunkeld - Perth Turnpike (now the B9099) onto the Lantern Drive and up to Douglasfield or Home Farm. Lantern Lodge, built about 1858, and Category 'B' listed, stood about one kilometre further along until it was demolished in the early 1970s.

Paul McLennan

Lantern Bridge, Gellyburn

This was Bridge #7 on the original Perth & Dunkeld Railway, which opened in 1856. It was strengthened in the mid-1970s to carry the new Intercity 125 service. Today it still carries a refurbished 125 service (power sockets for laptops and some kind of WiFi), even although the originals are museum pieces.

Paul McLennan

Witches Stone, Pittensorn, Murthly

A low lying stone beside a very old road linking Strathbraan in the west, through the Obney Hills with the old Boat of Caputh. A few years ago someone scraped off a thick mat of vegetation to expose a dozen cup marks, previously unrecorded. Local folklore has it covering a pile of treasure, and this story was dutifully recorded in the OS Place Names Book (Vol. 50, page 63, 1859-62, if you're interested): "it is said that some years ago a man commenced to excavate the soil around the rock in order, if possible, to secure the hidden treasure, while so employed, a small dog suddenly appeared on the top of the rock and desired the man to desist, assuring him at the same time that the reputed treasure was really there, but it was never intended that the eye of mortal should behold it. There are some marks on the rock which the superstitious tell you are the prints of this very sagacious dog’s paws." Nevertheless, someone else has tried:There is a hole about 20cm deep drilled into the stone. Sometime about the 1850s, the sons of the local dominie, John Cameron, got hold of some blasting powder (then widely used to help break up bigger stones while reclaiming farming land from the Muir of Thorn) and drilled the hole. Their father appeared and skelped their lugs, however, before the dog got in on the act.

Paul McLennan

Boar Park, Murthly

Conical pillars of dressed stone like these are a signature feature of Murthly estate's designed landscape. This is an entrance to Boar Park, one of nine large irregularly shaped enclosures, amid well-wooded shelter belts, for cattle and sheep along either side of the Grand Avenue, one of the carriage drives to Murthly Castle. A notable feature of these parks, particularly the ones to the east, is that the boundaries are not the usual stone dykes, but ha-has.

Paul McLennan

The Cloven Stone, Murthly

The stone in the centre of this image looks small, but it is currently buried in vegetation. Exposed, i.e. when the fir plantation (a cash crop) is harvested it is about the height of an average person. The Cloven Stone is an ancient boundary marker. Most probably an erratic boulder left behind by the receding ice, it was clearly a notable feature atop the Muir of Thorn.

Paul McLennan

The Malakoff Arch, Murthly

Picture, if you will, a Roman Arch in a Perthshire forest. It stands about 50' (15.5m). Approaching from the south you can see two narrow windows, one above the other in each leg. The crosspiece at the top has three sash windows. There is an apartment in each leg: cellar, scullery & living room on the ground floor, and a bedroom above. The cross piece is a dance hall. Not a ballroom, but a place for the tenantry to have ceilidhs. This is the Malakoff Arch, built by Sir William Drummond Stewart in 1858 from a memory of the Titus Arch in Rome to commemorate his son's achievements in the Crimean War. The son, Capt. William George Stewart was with the 93rd Highlanders at most of the big battles, and there when the Malakoff Redoubt was taken in September 1855, opening the way to Sevastopol and hastening the end of the war. If Sir William had not been so eager, or the builders not so competent, the Arch may have had another name. For Capt. Stewart's regiment was hurried out to India to help suppress the Sepoy Uprising, and there he won the Victoria Cross helping to lift the Siege of Lucknow. You can see an image of the Malakoff Arch here:Link

Paul McLennan

Victoria Cottage, Caputh

Georgina Ballantine (1889 - 1970) lived here. Record holder for the largest rod-caught salmon in the UK at 64lbs (29kg). On 7th October 1922, she was fishing from a coble on the Glendelvine Beat with her father James at the oars when she hooked her fourth salmon of the afternoon (the others weighed in at 25lbs, 21lbs and 17lbs). She landed the fish two hours and five minutes later, in darkness.

Paul McLennan

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Murthly Castle is located at Grid Ref: NO0739 (Lat: 56.538, Lng: -3.503)

Unitary Authority: Perth and Kinross

Police Authority: Tayside