Skip to content
WordPress site playing up? Vincony fixes it — today, from $5.Get it fixed →
The Great Britain Guide

Castles · Central Scotland

Claypotts Castle

In or near Dundee.

4.2 · 163 Google reviews

Claypotts Castle — castle in Dundee City, Scotland, UK.

Claypotts Castle, castles in Central Scotland

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Broughty Ferry · 1.4 km
  • Family-friendly

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Claypotts Castle, the nearest railway station is Broughty Ferry, located 1.4 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is DD5 3JY. Please note that the site is not wheelchair accessible.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Claypotts Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Dundee City, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 56.4764°, -2.8900°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Claypotts Castle is a late medieval castle in the suburban West Ferry area of Dundee, Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved examples of a 16th-century Z-plan tower house in Scotland. Now surrounded by modern housing, the castle is maintained as an Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.

From Historic Environment Scotland

Admire one of Scotland’s quirkiest castles, barely altered and retaining many of its original 1500s features.

Read more on the official property page.

From the Wikipedia article

Claypotts Castle is a late medieval castle in the suburban West Ferry area of Dundee, Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved examples of a 16th-century Z-plan tower house in Scotland. Now surrounded by modern housing, the castle is maintained as an Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

The castle was originally built by John Strachan around 1569–1588 according to dates inscribed on stones that make up parts of the castle, which make its construction longer than usual for such a small building. The land on which the castle was built was originally leased by the Strachan family from the Tironensian Abbey of Lindores starting in the early 16th century. In 1601 the Strachan family sold the castle to Sir William Graham of Ballunie who later sold it to Sir William Graham of Claverhouse. The castle became the property of the crown in 1689 after the death of the then current owner Viscount Dundee John Graham of Claverhouse at the battle of Killiecrankie. In 1694 the castle was…

Architecture

The castle consists of projecting towers at opposite sides of a rectangular main block, known as a Z-plan tower house. This was a popular design in the 16th century and allowed defenders to fire along the faces of the main block from both towers, although it is unlikely that the castle would have had much of a defensive role given its domestic scale.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
56.4764, -2.8900
District
Dundee City
Postcode
DD5 3JY
Parliamentary constituency
Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Nearest railway station
Broughty Ferry1.4 km
Opening
"by arrangement"

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Site of West Ferry station - geograph.org.uk - 7328229📷 5

Historic bridges · Central Scotland

Railway Roadbridge, Douglas Terrace, West Ferry, Dundee

Railway Roadbridge, Douglas Terrace, West Ferry, Dundee — category B listed building-listed bridge in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
St Luke's Church, Broughty Ferry📷 3

Historic churches · Central Scotland

St Luke's Church, Broughty Ferry

St Luke's Church, Broughty Ferry — church in Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Free
Grassy beach - geograph.org.uk - 3702759📷 3

Beaches · Central Scotland

Grassy Beach

Grassy Beach is a beach in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶
Dawson Park - geograph.org.uk - 4188356📷 5

Historic churches · Central Scotland

Broughty Ferry Mosque

Broughty Ferry Mosque — a church in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free
Westfield Road Junction - geograph.org.uk - 7328247📷 5

Historic churches · Central Scotland

St Stephen's Church, 96 Dundee Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee

St Stephen's Church, 96 Dundee Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee — category A listed building-listed church in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free
Linlathen Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 2002305📷 5

Historic bridges · Central Scotland

Linlathen West Bridge

Linlathen West Bridge — category A listed building-listed bridge in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

Where to eat & stay near Claypotts Castle

Places to stay

Bound for Aberdeen - geograph.org.uk - 2625916📷 7

Hotels · Central Scotland

Dundee Carlton Hotel

Dundee Carlton Hotel — a hotel in scotland central.

View from Snook Head - geograph.org.uk - 2841300📷 5

Caravan parks · Central Scotland

Tayport Links Caravan Park

Tayport Links Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland central.

tayportlinkscaravanpark.co.uk
The route of the former railway from Tayport to Leuchars. - geograph.org.uk - 3086746📷 5

Campsites · Central Scotland

Larick Campsite

Larick Campsite — a campsite in scotland central.

larickcampsite.org.uk
Monifieth Beach - geograph.org.uk - 7072006📷 5

Caravan parks · Central Scotland

TayView Caravan & Camping Park

TayView Caravan & Camping Park — a caravan park in scotland central.

Freetayview.info
Scrubland - geograph.org.uk - 7627143📷 5

Caravan parks · Central Scotland

Riverview Caravan Park

Riverview Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland central.

Freeriverview.co.uk
Kingennie Golf Course, 1st-10th Holes, The Fushnie - geograph.org.uk - 6258507📷 5

Hotels · Central Scotland

Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort

Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort — a hotel in scotland highlands.

forbesofkingennie.co.uk

Places to eat & drink

RNLI Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 4592476📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

The Eagle Inn, 157-159 King Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee

The Eagle Inn, 157-159 King Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Corner tenement block... - geograph.org.uk - 7806971📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

'The Clep' Public House, 96-98 Clepington Road, Dundee

'The Clep' Public House, 96-98 Clepington Road, Dundee in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Old Cowgate - geograph.org.uk - 2690584📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Office of J & D Grimmond, 1-3 King Street, Dundee

Office of J & D Grimmond, 1-3 King Street, Dundee in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Cathedral on a castle site - geograph.org.uk - 5581862📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Calcutta Buildings, 16, 18 Commercial Street, Dundee

Calcutta Buildings, 16, 18 Commercial Street, Dundee in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Statue of Admiral Adam Duncan (1731-1804) - geograph.org.uk - 4544399📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

51 Commercial Street, Dundee

51 Commercial Street, Dundee in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Cathedral on a castle site - geograph.org.uk - 5581862📷 7

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

The Stance and Drum Public House, 16 Dock Street, Dundee

The Stance and Drum Public House, 16 Dock Street, Dundee in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

More castles in this region

Looking in the direction of Duns Common in the Scottish Borders - geograph.org.uk - 6284202📷 3

Castles · Central Scotland

Borthwick Castle

Borthwick Castle in England North East, United Kingdom.

👶
Farm buildings at Lamberton - geograph.org.uk - 635685📷 2

Castles · Central Scotland

Lamberton Castle

Lamberton Castle in England North East, United Kingdom.

👶
Road from Cranshaws Castle to the main road - geograph.org.uk - 6566101📷 4

Castles · Central Scotland

Cranshaws Castle

Cranshaws Castle in England North East, United Kingdom.

👶
Achallader Castle📷 3

Castles · Central Scotland

Achallader Castle

Achallader Castle — castle in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.

👶thecastleguide.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where is Claypotts Castle?
Claypotts Castle is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode DD5 3JY).
What is Claypotts Castle?
Claypotts Castle — castle in Dundee City, Scotland, UK.
How do I get to Claypotts Castle?
The nearest railway station is Broughty Ferry, about 1.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode DD5 3JY.
Is Claypotts Castle a listed building?
Claypotts Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
Does Claypotts Castle charge admission?
Claypotts Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Claypotts Castle?
The nearest railway station is Broughty Ferry, about 1.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DD5 3JY.