Burleigh Castle

Burleigh Castle sits in a field near Milnathort, and adjacent to the A911, meaning that it is clearly visible. It was once an imposing keep and walled courtyard, but only the west side remains, consisting of the rectangular keep, one tower, and the wall linking them. The site is within a gated enclosure and at the time of my visit a key was available nearby.

The tower keep was erected by the Burleigh family in the mid 15th century, and as probably remodelled in the latter 16th century, when the courtyard was also added. The round tower, corbelled to square, bears a datestone of 1582, and the wall between contains the main arched entrance to the courtyard, which was once a two storey building as shown by the scar on the tower-keep. Early in the 18th century the then Lord Burleigh was exiled and joined the Jacobite Rising of 1715 – which meant that his estate was forfeit. Purchased by a family of Irwins, it was abandoned and then used as a quarry.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry