Castles · Central Scotland
Lochore Castle
In or near Kinglassie.
Lochore Castle — castle in Fife, Scotland, UK.
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
- Lochgelly · 1.8 km
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
Lochore Castle is located in Fife, Scotland, with the nearest railway station being Lochgelly, which is 1.8 km away. The postcode for navigation is KY5 8AQ. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.
About
Lochore 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 Fife, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 56.1485°, -3.3290°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Lochore Castle is a ruined 14th-century tower house, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south east of Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland, and south of Lochore, east of Loch Ore, in Lochore Country Park. Little remains of the castle, which was originally on the island of Inchgall, the name meaning “Isle of Strangers”. It may be known alternatively as Inchgall Castle
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Lochore Castle is a ruined 14th-century tower house, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south east of Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland, and south of Lochore, east of Loch Ore, in Lochore Country Park. Little remains of the castle, which was originally on the island of Inchgall, the name meaning “Isle of Strangers”. It may be known alternatively as Inchgall Castle
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Duncan of Lochore first built a motte on this site, during the reign of Malcolm IV of Scotland. The Valances acquired the castle (apparently by marriage) and extended it before constructing the keep during the 14th century, having probably lowered the motte. Thereafter in came into the hands of the Wardlaws of Torrie, and was then acquired by the Malcolms of Balbedie At the end of the 18th century, the loch was drained.
Architecture
The keep had four storeys, and a courtyard with four corner towers, which enclosed ranges of buildings. Probably the castle was approached by a causeway from the east. The wider area was landscaped and loch refilled in the 1980s, to restore it after the devastation caused by mining in the 20th century.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 56.1485, -3.3290
- District
- Fife
- Postcode
- KY5 8AQ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Glenrothes and Mid Fife
- Nearest railway station
- Lochgelly — 1.8 km
- Official site
- www.stravaiging.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q17792998 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Lochore Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Loch Ore Castle, from north-east 0268.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Castle Loop
Mountain bike trails · 0.2 km
Lochore Meadows Motorhome Parking
Caravan parks · 0.3 km
Bogey Trail
Mountain bike trails · 0.3 km
Glencraig Mining Memorial Garden
Memorials & monuments · 0.5 km
Crosshill
Reservoirs & lochs · 0.5 km
- Miners Strike 1984-85 Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.5 km
Glencraig Colliery Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.8 km
Lochore
Reservoirs & lochs · 0.9 km
Benarty District War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.0 km
Glencraig
Memorials & monuments · 1.0 km
Loch Ore
Reservoirs & lochs · 1.2 km
Harelaw Cairn
Burial mounds & barrows · 1.2 km
Nearby
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Lochore Meadows Motorhome Parking
Lochore Meadows Motorhome Parking — a caravan park in scotland central.
📷 5📷 3Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Glencraig Mining Memorial Garden
Glencraig Mining Memorial Garden — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
📷 5📷 3Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
- Miners Strike 1984-85 Memorial
- Miners Strike 1984-85 Memorial — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Lochore Castle
Places to stay
📷 5Caravan parks · Central Scotland
Lochore Meadows Motorhome Parking
Lochore Meadows Motorhome Parking — a caravan park in scotland central.
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Portmoak Caravan Site
Portmoak Caravan Site — a caravan park in scotland central.
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Green Oak Nature Retreat
Green Oak Nature Retreat — a campsite in scotland central.
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Kingdom Caravan Park
Kingdom Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland central.
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Gallowhill Campsite
Gallowhill Campsite — a campsite in scotland central.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
The Robert Nairn
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📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
The Royal Scot, 395-399 High Street, Kirkcaldy
The Royal Scot, 395-399 High Street, Kirkcaldy in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
The Star Tavern, 71-73 High Street, Burntisland
The Star Tavern, 71-73 High Street, Burntisland in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
461 and 463 High Street, Kirkcaldy
461 and 463 High Street, Kirkcaldy in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Feuars Arms, 66-68 Commercial Street, Kirkcaldy
Feuars Arms, 66-68 Commercial Street, Kirkcaldy in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Coaltown of Balgonie
Coaltown of Balgonie in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Lochore Castle?
- Lochore Castle is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode KY5 8AQ).
- What is Lochore Castle?
- Lochore Castle — castle in Fife, Scotland, UK.
- How do I get to Lochore Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Lochgelly, about 1.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode KY5 8AQ.
- Is Lochore Castle a listed building?
- Lochore Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Does Lochore Castle charge admission?
- Lochore Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Lochore Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Lochgelly, about 1.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode KY5 8AQ.