The Castle Tour
Thirlestane is Scotland's fairytale castle. The vast splendour of its turreted skyline and its elegant proportions
were intended to be seen from the original driveway which ran through the parklands from the west. The rose pink
sandstone of the window surrounds and architectural details stand out in sharp contrast to the walls of stone hewn
from the Leader valley behind the Castle.
The entrance was designed to make an impact. No-one could ride up to the front door. All had to dismount at the foot
of the broad flight of steps leading to the great terrace.
The stone surround to the front door was designed by Sir William Bruce, the architect commissioned by the Duke of
Lauderdale to remodel the Castle in the 1670s. The stonework bears the entwined initials of the Duke of Lauderdale and
his wife, who was the Countess of Dysart in her own right.
In the following pages, you can glimpse just some of the many rooms open to visitors at Thirlestane. There's lots
more to see when you visit!
