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Recommended Day Trip: Kellie Castle, Arncroach, Fife

Recommended Day Trip: Kellie Castle, Arncroach, Fife

Here at the Number 12 B&B, St Andrews we love to bring you details of local attractions in the St Andrews and wider Fife area. An ideal day trip is to Kellie Castle which is in Arncroach just 11 miles away from St Andrews.

Kellie Castle Overview

Beautiful Kellie Castle in Arncroach is a wonderful place to visit while staying in Fife. Maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, the castle is conserved for visitors to see how life would have been in the latter part of its life as a family home while keeping the grounds’ carefully landscaped gardens and acres of nearby woodland carefully maintained for visitors to experience the local wildlife as well as home-grown organic fruit and vegetables.

The castle has a number of appealing features that bring visitors to its doors. As well as the opportunity to experience how the laird and his family and servants would have lived, Kellie Castle is filled with marvellous Arts and Crafts furniture and ornate plastered ceilings in their original state dating back to the 17th century.

There is also the opportunity to enjoy art exhibitions, a cup of tea and a gift shop featuring lots of local produce, books and toys for the little ones in the family

Kellie Castle

Kellie Castle

About the Castle

Kellie Castle has a long and interesting history dating back to the 13th century when the earliest parts of the building were erected. Every part of the building has a story to tell and there will always be someone on hand to talk you through the historical tales of the castle and its infamous inhabitants.

Inside the castle itself you’ll find some spectacular sights. Fine furniture designed by Sir Robert Lorimer sits in rooms elaborately decorated with intricate plaster ceilings and painted panelling. As well as the Lorimer furniture, the castle also boasts a mural by Phoebe Ann Traquair, celebrated pioneer in the Arts and Crafts movement.

Outdoor pursuits

The beautiful landscaped gardens

The beautiful landscaped gardens

Outside the castle itself, the grounds cover some acres and include the walled Arts and Crafts garden. Planted with heritage varieties of scented flowers and brimming with birds, it’s a peaceful place to sit and enjoy the serenity. The garden also boasts a range of organically grown fruit and vegetables that are seasonally on sale for you to take away with you.

If you’d like to wander a little further afield, there are plenty of guided walks around the grounds and linking up with other walks that go beyond the Castle and to some of the surrounding villages. Within the grounds, regular nature walks allow you to experience the native flora and fauna, stopping off at the hide where you can watch the local birds in their natural habitat.

The National Trust for Scotland often arranges themed walks on topics that are relevant to the castle and the local area. Arts and Crafts, local wildlife and notable people and places in the area are often featured with experts in the subjects.

Activities

Kellie Castle has a programme of activities throughout the year. Linked to the seasons and covering the castle and its grounds, there are talks and events that take you through the Arts and Crafts history, phases in the wildlife and design and use of the grounds of the castle.

The grounds of the castle are open all year round for visitors and walking from 9.30am until 6pm or dusk during the shorter days. Opening times for the castle change with the seasons and it’s best to check before visiting to make sure it’s open.

The tearoom, which serves lovely lunches and delicious cakes, is open from 12-5pm, as is the shop.

For further information about Kellie Castle visit the TripAdvisor link.

Travelling from St Andrews to Arncroach

It’s only a short journey by car or bus from St Andrews to Arncroach. As can be seen from this Google link – https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=st+andrews+to+arncroach, it’s about 11 miles or 18 minutes for the journey. The route to travel is via the B9131 and B9171.

Conclusion

Kellie Castle is an elegant and interesting place for a day’s visit. Once you’re done with the castle itself there is plenty to do in the grounds, particularly if the weather’s nice. Round off your afternoon with tea and a cake in the tea shop and you’ve got a perfect day out.

When visiting don’t forget to book your stay at the Number 12 B&B St Andrews!

 

Image Credits: Wikipedia 1 and 2

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