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Methven Castle

Methven Castle is a 17th century building which incorporates earlier work.

The lands of Methven were owned by the Mowbray family from the 11th century, and they are likely to have built the first castle here. Following their support of John Balliol the property was given by Robert the Bruce to his son-in-law, Walter Stewart. The castle is mentioned in records from the 14th century and was besieged in 1444.

Following the involvement of Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl and great-grandson of Robert the Bruce, in a plot to kill James I the castle was take by the Crown. In 1503 the castle was given to Margaret Tudor as a wedding gift upon her marriage to James IV.

The estate was bought by Patrick Smyth of Braco in 1664 and he commissioned the celebrated Royal Master Mason John Mylne to remodel the castle.

Methven Castle

Map of the basin of the Tay
James Knox, Edinburgh, 1831 image courtesy of NLS

The Smyth family owned Methven Castle throughout the following centuries until it was sold in 1923. Several owners came and went during the 20th century until it was bought by the architect Kenneth Murdoch who undertook an extensive programme of restoration. The castle remains a private home.

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Alternative names for Methven Castle

Megffen

Clans associated with Methven Castle

Stewart

Surnames associated with Methven Castle

Mobray

Moubray

Mowbray

Stewart

Where is Methven Castle?

Methven Castle is in the parish of Methven and the county of Perthshire.

Grid reference: NO 04166 26040

Lat / long: 56.416821, -3.554980

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Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Methven Castle

OS map 369
Perth & Kinross (Ochil Hills East & Loch Leven)
OS Explorer map 369


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Directions to Methven Castle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Methven Castle

15°C
max 18°C / min 15°C
13km/h WSW
1004mb
69%
98%
03:25 21:08

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Methven at 17:45

References (books)

Calendar of documents relating to Scotland (Volume 4)
Joseph Bain
Edinburgh, 1881
New Statistical Account of Scotland
Various
Edinburgh, 1845
The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 4
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1892
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Garden and Designed Landscape record
Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Methven Castle

Lynedoch (site of)

2.6km away

Huntingtower Castle

4.2km away

Kinvaid Castle (site of)

4.8km away

Keillour Castle

6.6km away

Dupplin Castle

6.7km away

Aberdalgie

7.0km away

Pitheavlis Castle

7.1km away

Scone Palace

7.2km away

Balhousie Castle

7.4km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Methven Castle

Moneydie stone circle

3.3km away

Bachilton stone circle

4.4km away

Blairhall cursus

7.8km away

Jackschairs fort

9.7km away

Witch's Stone standing stone

11.5km away

Belhie henge and standing stone

11.5km away

Dunning standing stone

11.6km away

New Fowlis cairn and standing stones

11.7km away

Fowlis Wester stone circle, cairns, standing stones and rock art

11.8km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Methven Castle

Tulloch Class I symbol stone

4.7km away

Dupplin Cross Class III cross

7.2km away

Bore Stone of Gask Class II cross slab

10.4km away

Fowlis Wester Church Class III cross-slab

11.5km away

Fowlis Wester Class II cross-slab

11.5km away

Pittensorn Class III slab

13.7km away

Murthly 2 Class II cross slab

14.1km away

Murthly 1 Class III stone

14.2km away

Cargill Class I symbol stone

14.6km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Methven Castle

Norrie's Law hoard

41.1km away

Haddington silver chain

70.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

74.2km away

Borland silver chain

79.8km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

80.4km away

Whitlaw silver chain

90.2km away

Hoardweel silver chain

99.1km away

Dunnicaer fort

102.7km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

108.5km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Methven Castle

Huntingtower Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAlmondbank
3.2km away
Huntingtower Apartment
self-catering apartmentPerth
4.4km away
Holiday Inn Express Perth
hotel, barPerth
5.6km away
Aaron Guest House
bed and breakfastPerth
6.9km away
Symphony Lovat Hotel
hotelPerth
6.9km away
Almond Villa B&B
bed and breakfastPerth
7.2km away
Grampian Hotel
hotelPerth
7.5km away
Mercure Perth Hotel
hotelPerth
7.6km away
Quality Hotel Station Perth
hotelPerth
7.7km away
Best Western Queens Hotel & Leisure Club
hotel, restaurant, barPerth
7.7km away

Accommodation search

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Methven Castle

Huntingtower Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAlmondbank
3.2km away
Holiday Inn Express Perth
hotel, barPerth
5.6km away
Best Western Queens Hotel & Leisure Club
hotel, restaurant, barPerth
7.7km away
Breizh
restaurant, caféPerth
8.2km away
Murrayshall House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barScone
11.4km away
Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld
hotel, bar, restaurantDunkeld
16.6km away
The Famous Bein Inn
hotel, restaurant, barAberargie
17.6km away
Crieff Hydro Hotel and Leisure Resort
hotel, restaurantCrieff
17.9km away
Knock Castle Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barCrieff
18.4km away
Famous Grouse Experience
restaurant, café, barCrieff
18.6km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
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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 28th of June 2011 at 2:34 pm. Updated on the 2nd of April 2025 at 9:39 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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