Loch Leven Castle

Loch Leven Castle sits on an island within a loch and contains a tower house alongside the circular Glassin Tower built during the 1500s, both arranged around a rectangular courtyard. The fortress displays the typical layout of a Scottish island stronghold with walls that rise sharply from the water.

The fortress began as a medieval defensive structure and reached its most famous moment when Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned there from 1567 to 1568. During her captivity, she signed her abdication but later escaped with the help of supporters.

The castle drew visitors starting in the 1700s because people wanted to see where Mary Queen of Scots was held captive. The location shaped how people understood this pivotal moment in Scottish history.

Visiting requires a boat ride from Kinross Pier, available from April through September. The ferries run during daylight hours, allowing time to walk around the island and explore the fortress buildings.

Castle Island was artificially enlarged in the early 1800s through canalization works, which changed the original medieval layout of the fortress grounds. This modification remains visible today and shows how human intervention shaped the historic site.