Clan Rising
Dairsie Castle today

Scotland · Restored

Dairsie Castle

Dairsie Castle is a restored 16th-century Scottish tower house situated about 1.3 km south of Dairsie in north‑east Fife. It overlooks the River Eden and was rebuilt in the 1500s by the Learmonth family; it fell into ruin in the 19th century and was restored in the 1990s and is now used as holiday accommodation.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1300

Its prime

1583

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1583

What Dairsie Castle looked like in its prime.

A 16th‑century Scottish tower house: a compact, multi‑storey stone tower rising from low riverside ground and overlooking the River Eden. In its prime (c.1583) the tower stood roofed and complete, its weathered masonry forming a clear vertical silhouette above the riverbank; the setting is rural lowland, close to the village of Dairsie, with uninterrupted views across the adjacent fields to the river.

Its story

The story of Dairsie Castle.

The Bishops of St Andrews and the Parliament of 1335

The first castle at Dairsie, on ground above the River Eden 1.3 kilometres south of the village in north-east Fife, was the property of the bishops of St Andrews, and may have been built by William de Lamberton, who held that see from 1298 to 1328. In early 1335 a Scottish parliament sat at the castle.

The Learmonths, the Queen's Jewels and Morton's Siege, 1572-1583

The Learmonth family rebuilt the tower house in the 16th century. In March 1572, during the Marian Civil War, the laird of Dairsie, who was also Provost of St Andrews, invited the English ambassadors Thomas Randolph and William Drury to banquet at the castle. They refused to come, and by one account he instead invited Gavin Hamilton, the new archbishop of St Andrews, Robert Hamilton, minister of St Andrews, and William Skene to enjoy the feast he had prepared.

Patrick Learmonth of Dairsie lent money to William Kirkcaldy of Grange and held some of the jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots, as a pledge. James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, then regent of Scotland, asked him to return them. Morton laid siege to Dairsie Castle in 1575. James VI stayed at Dairsie in 1583, following his escape from the Raid of Ruthven in June of that year.

Archbishop Spottiswoode, Ruin and Restoration

In the 17th century Dairsie was sold to John Spottiswoode (1565-1639), Archbishop of St Andrews, who in 1621 built Dairsie Old Church next to the castle. The tower became ruinous during the 19th century. It was rebuilt in the 1990s, having been removed from the schedule of ancient monuments in 1997 ahead of the restoration works, and now operates as holiday accommodation. It is a Category B listed building, designated in March 1984.

Step inside

3 places to explore in 1583.

The record describes 3 distinct spots at Dairsie Castle, including the full exterior approach. 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 laneView from the River Eden bankGround beside the later Dairsie Old Church (churchyard site)

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1583, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Dairsie Castle.

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

  • Learmonth

    Rebuilt the tower house in the 16th century; Patrick Learmonth of Dairsie held jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots, in pledge.

  • Spottiswoode

    Bought in the 17th century by John Spottiswoode, Archbishop of St Andrews, who built Dairsie Old Church beside the castle in 1621.

From the archive

Dairsie 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. 627. — Dairsie Castle. Plans., Dairsie Castle

Fig. 627. — Dairsie Castle. Plans.

1892 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 4 (1892)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Dairsie Castle.

Tannadice Park, ScotlandStadiumTannadice Park16 km awayBell Rock Lighthouse, ScotlandLighthouseBell Rock Lighthouse36 km away

Questions about Dairsie Castle

What is the history of Dairsie Castle?

Dairsie Castle has a history reaching back to the 14th century. A Scottish parliament was held there in early 1335, and the Learmonth family rebuilt the tower house in the 16th century. It later passed to John Spottiswoode, who built Dairsie Old Church beside it in 1621. The tower fell into ruin before restoration in the 1990s.

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

Dairsie Castle was raised as a tower house and later used as a residence before becoming holiday accommodation. The tower house was rebuilt by the Learmonth family in the 16th century. After falling into ruin in the 19th century, it was restored in the 1990s and is now used for holiday accommodation.

Where is Dairsie Castle?

Dairsie Castle is in north-east Fife, just over a kilometre south of Dairsie. It overlooks the River Eden, in a rural setting close to the village. The castle is in Fife, Scotland.

When was Dairsie Castle built?

Dairsie Castle was first raised around 1300, and its tower house was rebuilt in the 16th century. The site record describes the standing tower as 16th-century, while the recorded inception is 1300, so the castle’s history spans the 14th and 16th centuries.

What did Dairsie Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Dairsie Castle was a compact, multi-storey stone tower with a clear vertical silhouette above the River Eden. Around 1583 it stood roofed and complete, rising from low riverside ground. Its weathered masonry overlooked adjacent fields and the river from a rural lowland setting.

Which family or clan held Dairsie Castle?

Dairsie Castle was held by the Learmonth family and later by John Spottiswoode. The Learmonths rebuilt the tower house in the 16th century. Spottiswoode bought it in the 17th century and built Dairsie Old Church beside the castle in 1621.

Is Dairsie Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Dairsie Castle is still standing and has been restored. The tower fell into ruin in the 19th century, then underwent restoration in the 1990s. It is described today as a restored 16th-century Scottish tower house and is used as holiday accommodation.

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