Drummond Castle, Scotland

Drummond castle is located in  Perthshire, Scotland the castle is known for its gardens, described by historic Scotland as the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland. It is situated in Muthill parish  4 km south of Crieff. The castle compromises a tower house built in the late 15^th century and a 17^th century mansion, both of which were rebuilt in Victorian Time. The gardens date to the 1630, although they too were restructured in the 19^th century. The formal gardens are protected as a category a listed buildings and are including on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. The tower  house and mansion are both category listed. The lands of Drummond were the property of the Drummond Family from the 14^th century, and the original tower house was built over several years by John Drummond, 1^st Lord Drummond of Cargill from 1490. In 1605 the 4^th Lord Drummond was created by Earl of Perth, and added to the castle. John Drummond, 2^nd Earl of Perth laid out the first terraced garden around the castle in 1630.

The castle was sacked by the army of Oliver Cromwell in 1653, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. James Drummond 4^th Earl of Perth was Lord Chancellor of Scotland under King James VII. He began the mansion house in 1689, before being imprisoned following the deposition of King James by William of Orange. He later fled to the exiled  to the Jacobite court in France. The Drummonds continued to support the Jacobite cause in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745. The family retained control  of the estate until 1750 when the Drummonds properties were declared forfeit and seized by the state. The estate  was managed by the commissioners for Forfeited Estates until 1784, when it was sold to captain James Drummond. He began a number of improvements that were continued by his daughter Sarah and her husband Peter Drummond – Burell , 22^nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby. These included the formal gardens and terraces in 1830. Queen Victoria visited the gardens in 1842.

Drummond Castle passed to Clementina Drummond – Willoughby, 24^th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby and then to her son Gilbert Heathcote – Drummond – Willoughby 1^st Earl of Ancaster. The upper stories of the tower house were rebuilt and heightened in pseudo medieval style in 1842 – 1853. The mansion was renovated in 1878 to design by George Turnbull Ewing. The 3^rd Earl of Ancaster and his wife Nancy Astor replanted the gardens in the 1950. The castle is now the seat of the 28^th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

The castle is set on part of a prominent spine of rock known as the gask ridge, a geographical feature that stretches several km across perthshire, but is particularly prominent and steep – sided at the site of the castle.

The tower house is no longer used as a dwelling. It is adjoined by a later, but better preserved gatehouse. Stretching between the tower house and the edge of the ridge, it was originally intended to control access to the courtyard behind, which has a fine view over the formal gardens. To the south of the castle on its rocky outcrop are the formal gardens. The buildings and gardens of Drummond Castle featured as backdrops in the 1995 film Rob Roy.