Top 4 Castles around Hill Of Beath

The castle Rossend, largely dating from the 16th century, was built on the site of a castle. This castle (donjon) has been documented since 1119. From 1382, the building was called Abbot's Hall, as the abbot of Dunfermline lived here. From 1552, the castle was rebuilt and the year 1554 was subsequently added. The castle was also visited by Mary, Queen of Scots. On February 14, 1562, the French ambassador and poet Chastelard was found under her bed. In 1651, soldiers of Oliver Cromwell captured the castle. After several further changes of ownership, the castle was bought in 1975 by the architectural firm Robert Hard & Partners. The castle is not open to visitors.

busy wee back road

A well preserved tower which must have been a castle exists along Torbain Road. Prominent, you can not miss it when passing by.

A great ruin with lots of stories linked to it and the home of Sir Michael Scott the Wizard of the North. Can be reached from Beveridge Park, Auchertool road or the Orrock Quarry road. It is on the newish signposted Kirkcaldy to Auchtertool path.

Note: the only road to/from the castle is St Margaret Way. All other routes are gated off.

Built in around 1450, Rosyth Castle once stood on an island connected by a causeway to the north shore of the River Forth and could only be accessed at low tide. It's amazing to think that all the land surrounding the castle now has been reclaimed within the last century. With the relocation of nuclear submarines in 1993, a massive portion of the Royal Navy dockyard was sold off, including the land that the castle sits upon. As such, you cannot explore the castle but you can still admire it from nearby.

You can't access this castle - it's sitting behind fences of a private business and doesn't appear to be operating as a tourist site.

Dunfermline Palace and Abbey are the remains of a great Benedictine abbey founded by Queen Margaret in the 11th century. Beginning as a priory founded by Malcolm’s wife, Queen Margaret, it was re-established as an abbey by her son in 1128 and is the final resting place of King Robert Bruce, notably minus his heart, along with seven other Scottish kings. Substantial parts of the abbey buildings remain, including the vast refectory. The foundations of Queen Margaret’s church are under the present superb nave, built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style. The abbey complex encompasses the ruins of a palace built by King James VI in the 16th century, which became home to his queen, Anna of Denmark. After the couple’s departure for London, royal interest in Dunfermline waned but the ruins of the abbey’s neighbouring palace still make for an interesting discovery. This was the birthplace of Charles I, the last monarch born in Scotland.