Scotland · Restored
Fatlips Castle
Fatlips Castle is a 16th‑century peel tower on Minto Crags in Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders, overlooking the River Teviot. Erected by the Turnbull family, it was restored in the 19th century and again in the early 21st; it was adapted as a shooting lodge and private museum in 1897–98 and is a scheduled monument.
First raised
1600
Its prime
1898
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1898
What Fatlips Castle looked like in its prime.
A compact, rectangular stone peel tower of four storeys plus an attic, built of pale grey rubble with lighter ashlar dressings; small vertical slit and rectangular windows punctuate the walls. The top is finished with a 19th‑century parapet walk with heavy corbelled eaves and a low cap‑house behind a crow‑stepped gable and chimney. It stands alone on a grassy crag above rolling farmland and the River Teviot, roof and parapet intact at its prime.
Its story
The story of Fatlips Castle.
Fatlips Castle is a peel tower at the top of Minto Crags, above the River Teviot in Roxburghshire. It was built in the 16th century by the Turnbulls of Barnhills, notorious Border reivers who also owned the nearby Barnhills Tower and farm. In 1545, during the War of the Rough Wooing, the Earl of Hertford burned "Mantoncrake", or Mynto Crag.
The castle was acquired by Sir Gilbert Elliot in 1705, whose family eventually became the Earls of Minto. The rectangular tower runs to four storeys and an attic, surrounded by a 19th-century parapet walk, and in 1897–98 it was adapted as a shooting lodge and private museum.
One of the pleasures of a visit used to be a peculiar custom, "every gentleman, by indefeasible privilege, kisses one of the ladies on entering the ruin." Restored in the 19th century and again in the early 21st, Fatlips is protected as a scheduled monument.
Step inside
6 places to explore in 1898.
The record describes 6 distinct spots at Fatlips 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.
Build Your Own Castle
Recreate Fatlips Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1898, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
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Clans who held Fatlips Castle.
The families that held Fatlips Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Turnbull
Built in the 16th century by the Turnbulls of Barnhills, Border reivers.
Acquired by Sir Gilbert Elliot in 1705; his family eventually became the Earls of Minto.
