Elcho Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Photo: Slink pink at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Steve Knight from Halstead, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- Historic Scotland Explorer Pass
- Nearest station
- Perth, 3.5 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Remarkably complete roofed 1560s tower house; seasonal
Pinpoint
Elcho, Perth PH2 8QQ
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| 1 April - 30 September | Monday : 10am to 4.30pm Tuesday : 10am to 4.30pm Wednesday : Closed Thursday : Closed Friday : 10am to 4.30pm Saturday : 10am to 4.30pm Sunday : 10am to 4.30pm |
Last entry: 30 minutes before closing/lunch
- Closed
- 1 October to 31 March
Checked against the official page on 13 August 2026.
A remarkably complete 1560s tower house on the Tay, still roofed and with every room open to visitors, including a climb to a small rooftop walkway. Historic Environment Scotland staffs it seasonally, and reviewers note it feels closer to a fortified family home than a defensive castle proper - accessible and full of detail rather than imposing.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The rooftop walkway - reviewers are pleasantly surprised that a tower house this old still lets you climb all the way to the top.
Before you go
Parking is limited, so arrive with that in mind; the surrounding orchard and grounds have made it a popular spot for small group events like hen parties, so it can be busier than the modest review count suggests on certain days.
What visitors say
Elcho Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 100 Google reviews
Visitors consistently rate Elcho Castle as well preserved and interesting to explore, with several mentioning the ability to access all the rooms and climb to a rooftop walkway via spiral stairs.
Staff are described as friendly and informative.
Parking is noted as limited, and the site works well for larger groups and outdoor activities, as one reviewer's fun hen-party visit combining a castle tour with apple picking in the estate's orchard shows.
“Excellently preserved medieval castle - even has access to the roof if you can manage spiral stone stairs”- Duncan Strathie, visitor review
Within reach of Edinburgh (30 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Walks at Elcho Castle
Elcho Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“Lovely drive to the site and a very interesting walk around the estate.”- Carl B, visitor review
Comparing options? See every UK castle with a walk visitors describe.
One visitor's account, not a route guide. We hold no distances, waymarks or start points. For the actual route, check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map before you set out, and treat coastal and clifftop paths as weather- and tide-dependent.
History
Sir John Wemyss · 1560
Clan Wemyss held these River Tay lands from at least 1429. Sir John Wemyss built the current Z-plan tower house around 1560 as a country retreat, not the clan's main seat. Its interior featured a 'noble floor' with hall and private chambers, plus an unusual guest wing with en suite facilities uncommon for the period.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Common questions about Elcho Castle
Where is Elcho Castle?
Elcho Castle is in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, at Elcho, Perth PH2 8QQ.
Do you need a ticket to visit Elcho Castle?
Yes - Elcho Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Historic Environment Scotland. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Are there walks at Elcho Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “Lovely drive to the site and a very interesting walk around the estate.”. That is one visitor's account rather than a route guide, so check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map for distances, paths and start points before setting out.
What is the highlight of visiting Elcho Castle?
The rooftop walkway - reviewers are pleasantly surprised that a tower house this old still lets you climb all the way to the top.
Is Elcho Castle a ruin or still intact?
Elcho Castle is a partial ruin - Remarkably complete roofed 1560s tower house; seasonal.
