Blackcraig Castle

Blackcraig Castle stands beside the River Ardle in Perthshire, a Baronial mansion built in 1856 by Patrick Allan Fraser. It occupies ground once held by the Maxwells, who owned the barony in the 16th century. The original tower rose three storeys and its lime-mortared rubble walls still show among later additions. Fraser enlarged the site with a hunting lodge, bridgehouse and gatehouse over decades until poor health ended his work in the 1880s. After his death the castle passed to the Hospitalfield Arts Trust and later served as a guest house. The building is recognised for its fine Baronial style and its A-listed walled garden. Recent owners have restored the castle and grounds since 2013, adding two holiday apartments while keeping the estate private. Plans exist to open the site for public events in future years. The bridgehouse, completed after more than forty years, remains a separate Class A-listed structure worth viewing. Visitors find a grand Baronial mansion with 19th-century extensions standing beside the river. Inside, original lime-mortared rubble contrasts with later stonework. The walled garden and bridgehouse add to the setting. The surrounding policies stretch across Perthshire’s quiet countryside near Ballintuim and Blairgowrie.