Falkland Palace

Falkland Palace is a splendid 16th century Renaissance building inhabited over the centuries by many Kings and Queens including Mary Queen of Scots. We last visited Falkland in December 2019 but the palace is shut over the winter so we only saw it from the outside. Today we returned and got to go inside.

It is currently owned by Ninian Crichton Stuart the Marquess of Bute. He is a descendant of Robert the Bruce and his family have been keepers of the palace for hundreds of years although possibly not for much longer as he’s trying to hand over the keys to a charity.

Part of the palace is in ruins but the parts that are still intact are beautiful with lavish bedrooms, beautiful painted ceilings, and intricate tapestries adorning the walls. There’s also a church which can be used for weddings. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside other than of the apothecary and bakery. The gardens are absolutely splendid with an orchard, greenhouse, and the oldest “real” tennis court in the world which is apparently still used today.

Here’s the apothecary.

The tennis court in this next photo has been played on for 450 years. It’s very different to modern lawn tennis courts which is why they call it “real” or “royal” tennis. King James V built the court in 1539 and it was played on by King James VI when he was a child.

This is the corridor for spectators.

In the corridor I noticed what looked like cat litter trays and wondered what they were for.

It wasn’t hard to discover their purpose. On the ceilings above were bird nests, now empty as the chicks will have fledged. But how wonderful it is that they allow the birds to nest there.

At the end of the palace tour is a room full of dress-ups but the kids weren’t interested. Only I and another middle-aged woman seemed to have fun here.

This willow statue in the grounds is Mary Queen of Scots. I love how they’ve left the lawns here to grow into meadows and only mow the pathways through.

This is Bugingham Palace.

Falkland Palace is spectacular, full of history and very well-managed today with people, community, and the environment at its heart.