Drummond Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Photo: PaulT (Gunther Tschuch), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Tom Parnell, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tom Parnell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Grimsthorpe & Drummond Castle Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Grounds only
- Nearest station
- Gleneagles, 7.0 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Formal gardens open seasonally; castle interior closed
Pinpoint
Drummond Castle Gardens, Crieff PH7 4HZ
Telephone 01764 681433
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Some of Scotland's grandest formal gardens, laid out in a Saltire pattern below a castle whose interior stays firmly closed to visitors - this is a gardens visit, not a castle tour, and reviewers rate it highly enough that nobody seems to mind. The gardens featured in the 1995 film Rob Roy, which draws a steady stream of visitors on that basis alone.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The Saltire-patterned terraced gardens - widely rated among the best formal gardens in Scotland, with peacocks wandering the grounds as a bonus.
Before you go
Only the gardens are open, not the castle interior, so set expectations accordingly; the roads in are narrow single-track with passing places, so allow extra time on the approach.
What visitors say
Drummond Castle reviews · 4.7 / 5 across 1,247 Google reviews
Reviewers are near-unanimous that the gardens are the highlight at Drummond Castle - several call them among the best formal gardens in Scotland - while noting that only the gardens, not the castle interior, are open to visitors; the castle itself is admired from the outside.
Peacocks roaming the grounds come up repeatedly as a delightful bonus, alongside praise for the greenhouse, fountain, and tea and cake options.
Every review on file rates the visit highly, with no notable complaints.
“Our hired car navigation map got us there with great ease. Signs are about to direct you. We turned right at exit gate as roads are one lane either direction with passing spots on a regular basis. Lovely drive to see…”- Caron Gamble, visitor review
Within reach of Glasgow (36 miles), Edinburgh (37 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Weddings at Drummond Castle
Drummond Castle is on our wedding roll because Grimsthorpe & Drummond Castle Trust mentions weddings on their own site. Visit their site.
Comparing options? See every castle wedding venue in Scotland, or the full UK wedding roll.
Dates, capacity, licensing and exclusivity change constantly and we hold none of it - treat this as a starting point and speak to the venue before you plan anything around it.
History
John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond
John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond, began building the keep around 1490, with the lower floors largely complete by then. The Earls of Perth added the arch and range in the 1600s, and the Victorians rebuilt upper storeys, while the formal gardens were redesigned in the 1830s to create the Saltire-patterned layout visitors see today.
Drawn from Grimsthorpe & Drummond Castle Trust's own page.
Common questions about Drummond Castle
Where is Drummond Castle?
Drummond Castle is in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, at Drummond Castle Gardens, Crieff PH7 4HZ.
Can you go inside Drummond Castle?
At Drummond Castle the grounds are open to visit but the castle interior generally isn't, under Grimsthorpe & Drummond Castle Trust. Check the official site for current access before you travel.
Can you stay overnight at Drummond Castle?
Yes - Drummond Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Drummond Castle?
The Saltire-patterned terraced gardens - widely rated among the best formal gardens in Scotland, with peacocks wandering the grounds as a bonus.
Is Drummond Castle a ruin or still intact?
Drummond Castle is largely intact - Formal gardens open seasonally; castle interior closed.
