Kinfauns: Castle, Landscape and Church History

Kinfauns brings together two distinct historical perspectives: the design of a castle landscape and the history of a medieval church building. If you also take the character of the destination into account when choosing a hotel, this variety offers a practical guide. The area’s history can be traced through two buildings and their respective contexts; their construction dates, designed surroundings and historical connection to a route each provide a different focus.

Kinfauns Castle and its building history

Kinfauns Castle was designed by Robert Smirke and built between 1822 and 1826. Its construction period places the castle in the early 19th century, with Robert Smirke as the named architect. The castle’s designed landscape provides a distinct historical focus. The building and the landscape belong together, but their historical periods are not identical. This distinction is useful for orientation: the construction date places the building in context, while the park, woodland and later landscape features offer a broader view of the development of the estate.

Parkland, woodland and views of the Tay

The designed landscape of Kinfauns Castle is a picturesque parkland and woodland landscape dating from the early 19th century. An arboretum and walking paths date from the mid-19th century, adding a later historical layer. An arboretum is a planted collection of trees; at Kinfauns, it is part of the estate’s historic design, alongside the walking paths. Parts of the former garden are privately occupied. Within the designed landscape, the woodlands and hill follies are of outstanding scenic value. The extensive views eastwards along the banks of the Tay add a clear sense of direction to the parkland and woodland. In this way, individual features of the landscape are linked to a far-reaching view along the river.

Kinfauns Old Parish Church

Kinfauns Old Parish Church is a medieval building on the Coronation Road, south of Scone. The Gray or Charteris side wing dates from 1598. The dates refer to different scales: “medieval” broadly classifies the church, while 1598 dates the side wing. The Coronation Road adds a distinct historical connection to a route to the building’s history. The church can therefore be considered through its building, a specifically dated part and its connection to the road as separate aspects. This gives it a distinctive historical focus alongside the history of the castle and landscape. The side wing is more than two centuries older than Kinfauns Castle.

This local history spans the period from the medieval church building to the 19th-century landscape design; the castle’s construction date is more precisely defined as 1822 to 1826. You can therefore plan your stay around the historical theme that interests you most.

Discover more destinations: Auchterarder, Ochtertyre, Inchture, Fowlis Wester, Scone, Grandtully, Glencarse, Blairgowrie and Rattray.

For the broader travel overview: Perth And Kinross.