Elcho Castle

Elcho Castle is a largely intact 16th century tower house overlooking the River Tay downstream of Perth. The courtyard wall is much ruined, but the tower itself retains the roof and is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, meaning it is open to the public for a fee.

There was an earlier castle here, perhaps dating to the 14th century, but nothing of this remains, and it is to be assumed that it was destroyed during the wars of Independence. Elcho was an estate of the Wemyss family, whose primary seat was in Fife, and in about 1560 John Wemyss elected to build an impressive Z-plan tower house here. The family and castle avoided the disasters of the mid 17th century but were perhaps struggling by 1745 when they rose in support of the Jacobites. David, Lord Elcho, was forfeited for treason and was succeeded by his brother in 1756. By 1780 the castle was abandoned but was reroofed in 1830 and passed into state care in 1929.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry