Staying In Perth And Three Grand Places to Visit
The ‘Fair City’ of Perth in Scotland was, at one time, a royal burgh is sited at the head of the Tay estuary. During the twelfth and fifteenth centuries Perth fought with Dunfermline for the title to be the capital of the nation. In the following article I introduce three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Scone Palace and Huntingtower Castle:
Scone Palace
At this time, Scone Palace is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, and a major attraction to tourists from around the planet. The palace is an integral part of Scotland’s history, as the kings of Scotland were once crowned there. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, in 1306, as well as Charles II when he took ownership of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious feel to the palace, which is justifiably so.At one time in the past the area was an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also a very early Christian church there.
Elcho Castle
Located roughly three miles from Perth, with awe inspiring vistas across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the prime examples of Sixteenth century constructions in Scotland today. The Wemyss family commissioned the erection of the castle in the 1570’s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was handed over to them by King James III. In 1633, the head of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, gave the castle to the nation of Scotland. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.
Huntingtower Castle
Situated just to the west of Perth is the medieval pile of Huntingtower Castle. Even though the structure is originaly medieval, it has been redeveloped significantly throughout most of it’s history. The Ruthven family were occupiers of the castle and lands from the 12th to 17th century. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, erected three meters apart. When the Murray family took possession, later on in the 17th century, they decided to merge the two towers, making the house look more like a conventional country abode. The bridging work between the two towers is still rather noticeable today, both on the inside and the outside.
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