Falkland Palace, Fife

Falkland Palace is a former royal palace of the Scottish Kings.

The Scottish Crown acquired Falkland Castle from MacDuff of Fife in the 14th century. In 1402 Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany imprisoned his nephew David Stewart, the eldest son of King Robert III of Scotland, at Falkland. He eventually died there from neglect and starvation. Albany was cleared of blame by Parliament, but the incident lead to the downfall of the Albany Stewarts.

Between 1501 and 1541 Kings James IV and James V of Scotland transformed the old castle into a beautiful royal palace. William Barclay, Master of Rhynd, was employed in 1527 to improve the state of the gardens and parkland.

Falkland became a popular retreat with all the Stewart monarchs. They practised falconry there and used the vast surrounding forests for hawking and for hunting deer. Wild boar, imported from France, were kept in the Park, within a fence made by the Laird of Fernie. After the Union of the Crowns, James VI and I, Charles I, and Charles II all visited Falkland. Cromwell's army set the palace on fire and it quickly fell into ruin. In 1887 John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute started the restoration of the palace.

In the early 1950s the Crichton-Stuarts, the Keepers of Falkland Palace, appointed the National Trust for Scotland to take care of the Palace, and they now care for and maintain the Palace and its extensive gardens.

Opening Times

Palace and Garden:
March to October,
Monday to Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 1am-5pm.
Last admission 4.30

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Ticket Prices

Adult £11
Family £27
1 parent £21
Concessions £8

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Disabled Facilities

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