Kinfauns Castle

Kinfauns Castle stands on a raised terrace above the River Tay in the small Scottish village of Kinfauns, Perth and Kinross. Built in the 19th century, it follows the Castellated Gothic style with a subtle asymmetry typical of Scottish Georgian design. The house is protected as a category A listed building, and its grounds appear in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. The estate began as a medieval stronghold before becoming a grand residence. It has passed through several notable families over the centuries, including the Charterises, Carnegies, Blairs, Grays and Stuarts. The castle’s history includes a violent feud between the Charteris and Ruthven families in the 16th century. John Charteris was murdered on Edinburgh’s High Street in 1552, and the property later changed hands multiple times. The current building was designed by Sir Robert Smirke and completed in 1826 for Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray. Later owners, the Earls of Moray, commissioned improvements such as a walled garden and gardener’s cottage designed by Francis William Deas in 1910. The estate was once linked to a scandal involving the marriage of Alexander Blair Carnegie and Jean Carnegie when they were aged just 14 and 12. Visitors find a grand residence set within carefully designed grounds. The house faces south over the River Tay, offering views across the water. The walled garden and gardener’s cottage remain from the early 20th-century improvements. Inside, historical features include Charteris’ sword, believed to be preserved within the castle. The estate is now privately occupied by Ann Gloag, co-founder of the Stagecoach company. The name Kinfauns Castle also inspired a steamship, the RMS Kinfauns Castle, launched in 1899 and painted by Charles de Lacy.