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Bavelaw Castle today

Scotland · Restored

Bavelaw Castle

Bavelaw Castle is an L-plan tower house near the Pentland Hills in the City of Edinburgh council area of Scotland. The stone-built tower with a circular corner turret and later low wing was restored and extended in 1900 and is a Category A listed building.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1900

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1900

What Bavelaw Castle looked like in its prime.

A white-harled three-storey L-plan tower house of rubble masonry with a small one-storey wing projecting to the south-east and a round tower at the north-eastern corner; steep slate roofs with an enlarged attic turret and several tall stone chimneys; larger sash windows inserted at restoration; the house sits behind a low dry-stone boundary wall amid rolling pasture and scattered trees, with farm outbuildings linked to the main block.

Its story

The story of Bavelaw Castle.

An early structure at Bavelaw, above Threipmuir Reservoir in the Pentland Hills, was owned by the Braids, then by the Fairlies, before passing to the Forresters of Niddry by marriage. A 16th-century L-plan tower house was built by Walter Dundas before King James VI granted Easter and Wester Bavelaw to Laurence Scott of Harperrig in 1628.

The harled rubble tower stands three storeys and an attic tall, with a circular tower at the north-eastern corner and a small later one-storey wing to the south-east. The vaulted ground-floor rooms differ in height, a difference repeated on the floors above, which may mark the nucleus of the original structure, and the northern first-floor chamber is known as Queen Mary's Room. Restored and extended in 1900, Bavelaw is a Category A listed building.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1900.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Bavelaw Castle, including 2 interiors: vaulted ground-floor chamber (interior), queen mary's room (northern first-floor chamber). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the pasture and stone wallSouth-east projecting wing (exterior)North-east circular tower (exterior)Roofline and attic turretVaulted ground-floor chamber (interior)Queen Mary's Room (northern first-floor chamber)Courtyard where outbuildings join the main house

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Whose castle

Clans who held Bavelaw Castle.

The families that held Bavelaw Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Braid

    Early owners of the first structure on the site.

  • Fairlie

    Held Bavelaw after the Braids, before it passed by marriage to the Forresters.

  • Forrester

    The Forresters of Niddry acquired Bavelaw by marriage.

  • Dundas

    Walter Dundas built the 16th-century L-plan tower house.

  • Scott

    Easter and Wester Bavelaw granted to Laurence Scott of Harperrig by James VI in 1628.

From the archive

Bavelaw Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Fig. 467. — Bavelaw Castle. Plans of Ground Floor and First Floor., Bavelaw Castle

Fig. 467. — Bavelaw Castle. Plans of Ground Floor and First Floor.

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Bavelaw Castle.

Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, ScotlandChurchRosslyn Chapel, Roslin11 km awayTynecastle Park, ScotlandStadiumTynecastle Park12 km awayMurrayfield Stadium, ScotlandStadiumMurrayfield Stadium12 km away

Questions about Bavelaw Castle

What is the history of Bavelaw Castle?

Bavelaw Castle began as a 16th-century L-plan tower house built by Walter Dundas. An early structure on the site passed from the Braids to the Fairlies and then to the Forresters of Niddry by marriage. Laurence Scott received Easter and Wester Bavelaw from James VI in 1628; the castle was later restored and extended in 1900 after falling into ruinous state.

What is inside Bavelaw Castle?

Inside Bavelaw Castle are vaulted ground-floor chambers, including a northern chamber that is lower than the other. The difference in height is repeated on the floors above, and the northern first-floor chamber is known as Queen Mary's Room. These features may indicate the nucleus of the original structure.

Why was Bavelaw Castle built, and what was it used for?

Bavelaw Castle was built as a tower house, serving as a substantial residence and, reputedly, a hunting lodge for Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI. Walter Dundas built the 16th-century L-plan tower house, and Laurence Scott enlarged it after receiving the estate in 1628. It was later restored and extended in 1900.

Where is Bavelaw Castle?

Bavelaw Castle is in the City of Edinburgh council area, in the Pentland Hills above Threipmuir Reservoir. It lies north of Hare Hill, four miles west of Penicuik and two miles south of Balerno. The castle is set among rolling pasture and scattered trees.

When was Bavelaw Castle built?

Bavelaw Castle was built in the 16th century, although the date when the first structure was raised is not recorded. The documented tower house was an L-plan building by Walter Dundas. It was restored and extended in 1900, with further alterations in 1938.

Which family or clan held Bavelaw Castle?

Bavelaw Castle was held by the Braids, the Fairlies and the Forresters of Niddry. The Forresters acquired it by marriage, while Walter Dundas built the 16th-century tower house. In 1628, James VI granted Easter and Wester Bavelaw to Laurence Scott of Harperrig.

What did Bavelaw Castle look like in its prime?

In its restored form, Bavelaw Castle is a white-harled, three-storey L-plan tower house of rubble masonry. It has a round tower at the north-eastern corner, a small one-storey south-eastern wing, steep slate roofs, an enlarged attic turret and tall stone chimneys. Larger sash windows were inserted during the restoration.

Is Bavelaw Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Bavelaw Castle is still standing and has been restored. Its stone tower was extended in 1900, when larger windows, an attic turret and links to the outbuildings were added. The building was further altered in 1938 and is a Category A listed building.

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