Myres Castle

Myres Castle stands in Fife near the village of Auchtermuchty. Its present form dates from 1530, built as a Z-plan fortress with an ochre harled exterior. The square tower added in 1616 carries garland stonework and heraldic relief with carved initials. Below, the basement shows Romanesque barrel-vaulted construction from an earlier period. The north wing was added around 1700 and the west wing around 1822. Scots Baronial touches were introduced in 1872 by James Campbell Walker. The castle’s history is linked with Falkland Palace, where its owners served as Sergeants of Arms. The name ‘Myres’ refers to the boggy ground on which it stands, though drainage works in the 1970s improved the fields. The estate once belonged to the Earl of Fife before passing to the crown in 1425. Tenant records from the Royal Exchequer show the king retained ownership into the 16th century. An early tenant, Robert Coxwell, lived at the Scottish Royal Court. Visitors find a Victorian stone gatehouse at the entrance containing a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and sitting room. The Courtyard Cottage has three bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, shower room and WC. The grounds cover 44 acres and include a Vatican walled garden, vegetable garden, greenhouse, maze, pond and tennis court. Fairlie memorabilia such as shooting diaries from 1903 remain on display. The property has been used both as a private home and a venue for hire.