Balfour Castle

Balfour Castle stands on farmland near Kirkton of Kingoldrum in Angus. Built in the 16th century, it once guarded the countryside before falling into ruin. Today only a six-storey round tower remains standing above the rest. Around 1845 a farmhouse was built around parts of the old castle walls. The farmhouse still uses fragments of the medieval structure in its construction. The ruins belong to a category of Scottish castles that once dotted the countryside. The round tower shows how defence and residence were combined in the 16th century. Its height made it a lookout post for miles around. The farmhouse next door keeps the memory of the castle alive. Visitors can see how later builders reused the old stonework. A walk around the farm and tower shows the contrast between past and present. The round tower rises above fields and hedges, a quiet reminder of power long gone. The farmhouse walls still carry carved stones from the castle’s heyday. The scene is peaceful, with no crowds or noise. It is a place where history can be felt without distraction.