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West Wemyss Castle


West Wemyss Castle is a ruined 16th century tower house, standing on the shore below high red sandstone cliffs, at the south-west extremity of the policies of Wemyss Castle.

Almost certainly built by the Wemyss family, it seems to have been associated in some way with a chapel and burial ground here. No evidence remains of the chapel in what is now known as the Chapel Garden, however above a pointed archway in the east wall of the burial enclosure is a pediment inscribed with “E D W 1776”, for David Wemyss, Lord Elcho and the 6th Earl of Wemyss.

The castle, sometimes referred to as Old Wemyss Castle (although Wemyss Castle itself is older), is rectangular in plan, with a round stair tower projecting from the south wall, and the remains of a small square tower at the south-west corner.

Originally consisting of four storeys topped off with a garret, the ground floor is vaulted and housed a kitchen at the eastern end. This floor is now partly below ground level, although the top of the vaulting is visible.

The head of the stair tower is corbelled-out to support a rectangular caphouse.

In front of the castle is a long 16th century wall with three circular towers. The one at the north-east corner of the wall is the largest, and at one time was used as a dovecot, although that may not have been its original purpose.

The tower in the centre of the wall appears to have been a bastion, being open at the rear, while the tower at the south-west corner is more slender in shape than the other two. The wall linking the three towers is topped off with decorative rounded arches, almost certainly a later addition.

Extensive redevelopments of the nearby Wemyss Castle were carried out in the 17th and 19th centuries, and it is likely that West Wemyss Castle fell out of use due to this.

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Alternative names for West Wemyss Castle

Chapel Gardens House; Old Wemyss Castle; Weemis Chappell

Where is West Wemyss Castle?

West Wemyss Castle is in the parish of Wemyss and the county of Fife.

Grid reference:NT 31925 94660

Lat / long:56.139723,-3.096962

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OS Map for West Wemyss Castle

OS map 367
Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy & Glenrothes South (Methil & Culross)
OS Explorer map 367


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Directions to West Wemyss Castle

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Weather at West Wemyss Castle

5°C
max 6°C / min 4°C
11km/h SW
1028mb
83%
70%
07:52 17:00

Broken clouds
Weather observed at East Wemyss at 09:24

References (websites)

Canmore
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Castles near West Wemyss Castle

Wemyss Castle

1.1km away

MacDuff's Castle

3.5km away

Ravenscraig Castle

3.6km away

Dunnikier House (possible)

3.9km away

Balfour

5.6km away

Abbotshall (site of)

5.9km away

Balgonie Castle

6.1km away

Bogie (site of)

7.1km away

Seafield Tower

7.3km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near West Wemyss Castle

Bogleys standing stone

2.4km away

Balfarg henge and stone circle

9.2km away

Lundin Links stone circle

11.7km away

Inchgall (possible) crannog

14.4km away

Reedieleys cursus

18.1km away

Newton of Collessie standing stone

18.8km away

Classlochie souterrain

19.0km away

Orwell standing stones

19.5km away

Hatchbank souterrain

20.7km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near West Wemyss Castle

Court Cave Class I rock carving

3.3km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

3.3km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

3.7km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

3.7km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

9.5km away

Largo Class II cross slab

13.6km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

13.8km away

Westfield 1 Class I symbol stone

15.0km away

Westfield 2 Class I symbol stone

15.0km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near West Wemyss Castle

Norrie's Law hoard

15.5km away

Haddington silver chain

28.7km away

Traprain Law silver chain

32.9km away

Whitlaw silver chain

50.0km away

Borland silver chain

54.8km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

56.4km away

Hoardweel silver chain

58.1km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

90.0km away

Dunnicaer fort

106.3km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near West Wemyss Castle

Dunnikier House Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantKirkcaldy
4.1km away
Ahaven Bed & Breakfast
bed and breakfastKirkcaldy
4.7km away
Hollytree Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastMarkinch
5.4km away
Premier Inn Glenrothes
hotel, restaurantGlenrothes
5.7km away
Dean Park Hotel
hotelCardenden
7.2km away
Town House Hotel, Markinch
hotelMarkinch
7.2km away
Golden Acorn Hotel
hotelGlenrothes
7.7km away
The Caledonian Hotel, Leven
hotelLeven
8.8km away
Express By Holiday Inn Glenrothes
hotelGlenrothes
9.2km away
The Gilvenbank Hotel
hotelFreuchie
9.4km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near West Wemyss Castle

Dunnikier House Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantKirkcaldy
4.1km away
Premier Inn Glenrothes
hotel, restaurantGlenrothes
5.7km away
Best Western Balgeddie House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barGlenrothes
10.1km away
Kingswood Hotel
hotel, restaurantBurntisland
10.6km away
The Covenanter Hotel
hotel, restaurant, bar, caféFalkland
14.3km away
Luigino's
hotel, restaurantFalkland
14.4km away
Woodside Hotel
hotel, restaurantAberdour
16.0km away
Station Buffet Bar
barElie
18.2km away
Café Tiki
caféEdinburgh
18.3km away
Ocean Kitchen
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
18.3km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
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Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 12th of March 2011 at 9:34 pm. Updated on the 29th of April 2013 at 12:00 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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