Tayport Castle

Tayport Castle was a small lowland fortress in the town of Tayport in Fife. It stood on flat ground near the shore of the Firth of Tay. The castle had a Z-shaped floor plan covering about twelve metres by twelve metres. Two round towers, each nearly eight metres across, marked its south-east and north-west corners. Historical records first mention the castle in 1588. By 1854 its vaulted cellar still served as a store-room before the building was taken down. The castle’s short life and sudden disappearance make it worth visiting. Its unusual Z-shaped design and large round towers show how Scottish towers were changing in the late 16th century. The fact that the cellar survived into the 19th century adds to its interest. Though nothing now stands above ground, the site keeps the memory of a once important local stronghold. Visitors find only a grassy patch where the castle once rose. The spot lies close to the modern streets of Tayport, easy to reach on foot. From the site there are wide views across the Firth of Tay to Dundee on the opposite shore. The absence of ruins lets the setting speak for itself, linking past and present along the quiet waterfront.