
What is recorded here
Cleish Castle stands as a 16th-century tower house in Kinross-shire, built by the Colville family and marked by the date 1600 on its upper dormers. John Colville, son of the original builder, joined dangerous conspiracies against James VI, including the Ruthven Raid and an attack on Holyroodhouse. The castle changed hands in 1775, fell derelict before 1840, and was later restored in a Scots baronial style by John Lessels. It remains a private residence, its grounds recognised in the national inventory of significant Scottish gardens.
Scotland's National Record of the Historic Environment records Cleish Castle as Motte (medieval). The official map says its point is accurate as follows: NGR given to the nearest 100m. The record does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.
Cleish Castle was a medieval motte-and-bailey castle, likely built in the 12th or 13th century, and is associated with the historical region of Clackmannanshire in central Scotland. It is remembered as part of Scotland's broader network of early strongholds that played a role in local defense and feudal control during the medieval period.
The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.
Places near here
West MainsMill Dam (post Medieval), Saw Mill (post Medieval) · 672 yd
BorelandFarmstead (period Unassigned) · 778 yd
DummiefarlineFort (prehistoric) · 1365 yd
Cleish Parish Church, ChurchyardBurial Ground (post Medieval), Churchyard (post Medieval) · 1388 yd
Nivingston CraigsCliff · 1.4 mi
Heights of CraigencrowMountain / peak · 1.8 mi
Outh MuirNo Class (event) (period Unassigned) · 1.9 mi
Cowden HillMountain / peak · 2.0 mi
Craigencat CraigsCliff · 2.1 mi
Dowhill CastleTower House (medieval) · 2.2 mi
Blairadam ForestForest · 2.3 mi
Drungie WoodWood · 2.4 miOther information
Photo: James Allan · CC BY-SA 2.0