Dalnaglar Castle

Dalnaglar Castle stands beside the Shee Water in Perth and Kinross, six kilometres south of Spittal of Glenshee. It is a 19th-century baronial mansion built in 1864 for Daniel Robertson, a banker from Blairgowrie. The estate began as Dalnaglar Cottage, a hunting lodge used by the Shaw family from the late 1700s. The first map to name a building here appeared between 1747 and 1755, and the spelling settled as Dalnaglar by 1783. Historic Environment Scotland describes the castle as a ‘Mid-Victorian baronial curiosity’ with coarse detailing. The castle has a two-storey main block and two towers, one rising to three storeys and the other to three storeys plus an attic. Part of the grounds may once have been laid out as a Japanese garden. The estate was sold in 1867 at a public auction for £10,000. Four holiday cottages now sit within the grounds, and the castle itself is hired for private holidays, weddings and group events. Visitors find a quiet riverside setting with views across the estate. The harled stone walls and tall towers give the house its baronial character. Inside, the rooms reflect its use as a hunting lodge and later a private residence. The Shee Water adds a gentle sound to the landscape. The estate remains a private place, yet its architecture and history draw those interested in Victorian design.