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Balwearie Castle

Balwearie Castle is a ruined 15th century tower which belonged to the Scott family.

Around 1230 Richard de Balwearie succeeded his father, Geoffrey de Inverkunglas. Their surnames are not recorded however a Michael Scott of Balwearie is on record from 1280. In 1296 Michael was taken prisoner at the battle of Dunbar and sent to Wallingford Castle. Some time between 1300 and 1306 Michael granted land to Ivo of Bruntshiels and the document was witnessed William of Lochore. William’s relative, Constantine of Lochore, had also been imprisoned at Wallingford.

In 1484 James III confirmed a charter of the lands and barony of Glendovok to William Scott of Balwearie.

In 1503 Sir William Scott of Balwearie seems to have sold the lands and barony of Glendovok to William Hay, 3rd Earl of Erroll, however the property seems to have returned to the Scotts as in 1510 the lands of Glendowak were erected into a free barony by James IV for William Scott of Balwearie.

Later that year he disposed the same lands of Glendowok to John Ferguson of Downy in warrandice of the lands of Downy however the manor and fortalice of Glendoick are mentioned in a charter of 1529 confirming William Scott as the heir of William Scott of Balwearie. A charter of 1548 mentions the manor and fortalice of Glendoick when Mary, Queen of Scots, confirmed their transfer from Sir William Scott to his son of the same name.

In 1569 the younger Sir William Scott of Balwearie wrote to John Wemyss of Wemyss asking him to be a cautioner or guarantor “for whatever sums the Bishop of Moray should recover by law against him of his teinds of Glendowok“.

There was a disposition and assignation of “the lands and baronies of Stramiglo, Glendook and others which belonged to the late Sir William Scot of Balwery” by Robert Colville of Cleisch, James Lyndesay of Dowhill and Alexander Monypenny of Kynkell to George Halket of Petfirran in 1579.

In 1584 Janet Lindsay, Lady Balwearie, signed a contract with James Scott of Balwearie according to which she would renounce “her conjunct fee lands of Manes of Balverie and 5 chalders victual from lands of Glendoak” in exchange for James paying 12,000 merks to his brothers and sisters.

In 1595 Sir James Scott of Balwearie signed a contract with his cousin, William Scott of Abbotshall, to ensure that his “lands and baronies of Innerteill, Stramiglo, Glendock, Balwearie and others” would remain in the Scott family by passing to William’s son, James, should Sir James’s line fail.

Sir James later resigned the lands and manor of Glendovoke and in 1602 James VI confirmed Sir David Murray of Gospertie, Comptroller of Scotland, as their owner.

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Alternative names for Balwearie Castle

Baluery; Balverie; Balwearie Tower; Balweirrie; Balwerie; Balwery; Balwirie; Bawery

Clans associated with Balwearie Castle

Scott

Surnames associated with Balwearie Castle

Scott

Where is Balwearie Castle?

Balwearie Castle is in the parish of Kirkcaldy and Dysart and the county of Fife.

Grid reference: NT 2516 9040

Lat / long: 56.10049000, -3.20468310

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OS Map for Balwearie Castle

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


Directions to Balwearie Castle

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Weather at Balwearie Castle

15°C
max 16°C / min 13°C
37km/h WSW
1006mb
72%
40%
03:25 21:04

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Kirkcaldy at 18:22

References (books)

The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Balwearie Castle

Pitteadie Castle

1.4km away

Raith Tower

1.5km away

Abbotshall (site of)

2.1km away

Bogie (site of)

2.5km away

Grange

2.6km away

Balbie (site of)

2.7km away

Balmuto Castle

3.1km away

Abden (possible) (site of)

3.3km away

Seafield Tower

3.4km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Balwearie Castle

Bogleys standing stone

6.4km away

Inchgall (possible) crannog

9.4km away

Balfarg henge and stone circle

13.1km away

Classlochie souterrain

14.9km away

Hatchbank souterrain

16.1km away

Edinburgh Castle fort

16.9km away

Orwell standing stones

17.2km away

Cammo Stone standing stone

17.5km away

Dunsapie fort

17.5km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Balwearie Castle

Court Cave Class I rock carving

11.2km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

11.3km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

11.6km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

11.7km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

15.8km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

16.8km away

Westfield 1 Class I symbol stone

17.0km away

Westfield 2 Class I symbol stone

17.0km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

17.1km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Balwearie Castle

Norrie's Law hoard

23.1km away

Haddington silver chain

31.2km away

Traprain Law silver chain

36.5km away

Borland silver chain

48.1km away

Whitlaw silver chain

49.1km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

49.5km away

Hoardweel silver chain

61.4km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

82.9km away

Dunnicaer fort

113.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Balwearie Castle

Ahaven Bed & Breakfast
bed and breakfastKirkcaldy
3.4km away
Dean Park Hotel
hotelCardenden
3.8km away
Kingswood Hotel
hotel, restaurantBurntisland
3.9km away
Inchview Hotel
hotelBurntisland
4.5km away
Harbour House
self-catering apartmentKinghorn
4.5km away
Bay View B&B
bed and breakfastBurntisland
4.5km away
Dunnikier House Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantKirkcaldy
4.8km away
Woodside Hotel
hotel, restaurantAberdour
8.1km away
Premier Inn Glenrothes
hotel, restaurantGlenrothes
9.6km away
Hollytree Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastMarkinch
10.3km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Balwearie Castle

Kingswood Hotel
hotel, restaurantBurntisland
3.9km away
Dunnikier House Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantKirkcaldy
4.8km away
Woodside Hotel
hotel, restaurantAberdour
8.1km away
Premier Inn Glenrothes
hotel, restaurantGlenrothes
9.6km away
Papa Joe's Dunfermline
restaurantDunfermline
12.2km away
Premier Inn Dunfermline
hotel, restaurantDunfermline
12.2km away
Best Western Balgeddie House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barGlenrothes
12.3km away
The Hideaway Restaurant
restaurantDunfermline
12.6km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Leith Waterfront
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
13.3km away
Café Tiki
caféEdinburgh
13.4km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Inveraray Castle and standing stone
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A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 18th of January 2012 at 10:41 pm. Updated on the 20th of June 2021 at 4:58 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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