Pitcairlie is a 16th century mansion within a 120 acre estate of woods, streams, parklands, and two ornamental lakes. The grounds are home to a variety of wildlife, magnificent trees and wildflowers, parklands grazed by Highland cattle, rare breed sheep, horses, ponies and a donkey. This lovely rural location is on the Perthshire / Fife border, two miles from Auchtermuchty, which was featured as Tannochbrae in Dr Finlay's relaunched casebook. Just four miles away is the historic, medieval village of Falkland, home to Falkland Palace, a Renaissance royal hunting lodge with connections to Mary Queen of Scots.

This central location is ideal for rambling, hillwalking and exploring the East Neuk of Fife, with its sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages. For golfers, there are many excellent golf courses within easy reach, including the Old Course in St Andrews and Carnoustie in Angus. St Andrews is an ancient university town, famous the world over as the home of golf. From Pitcairlie, the M9 is near at hand, allowing easy access to Edinburgh and the south, as well as north to Perth and the Scottish Highlands.

The Swimming Pool

All our guests at Pitcairlie have free use of our heated indoor swimming pool (23 ft x 12 ft). Internal access to the beautifully finished pool room is available from all properties, except Kudu (which is just a few yards away along the verandah) and the Lodge. There is also a metered sauna. We hope our guests will enjoy our pool, which is just perfect for easing away an energetic day's sightseeing or a hard day on the golf course.

The Grounds

Perhaps the best facility of all is the peace and quiet of Pitcairlie. Guests can enjoy walking in our secluded 120 acre estate with its woods, streams and lakes. The small ornamental lake (small children beware!) beside the main house and garden provides an idyllic setting for sitting out on a summer's evening or setting out on an autumn ramble through the woods and meadowlands. A second, larger lake has recently been formed and stocked with fish. The parklands are grazed by rare-bred sheep and Highland cattle. There is also a children's play area with ponies and a donkey for our guests to befriend.

From golf in St Andrews to the fishing villages of the East Neuk, from the Renaissance Palace of Falkland to the ancient home of the Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace, and more ... use the menu on the right to discover the wealth of experience available in and around the Kingdom of Fife ...


Local History

The lands of Petcarlings originally formed part of the Barony of Abernethy. In 1312, the lands passed into the ownership of the Leslie family, Earls of Rothes, when Sir Andrew Leslie married the daughter of Sir Alexander Abernethy. Sir Alexander had been a supporter of Robert the Bruce, but had later espoused the cause of Edward I and commanded the English garrison at Dundee.

Pitcairlie House dates from the early 16th century and may have been the original home of the Leslies of Pitcairlie. The tower was probably built around 1550 by George Leslie, 3rd Earl of Rothes. The strength of the ground floor vaulting and the thickness of the walls, together with the position of the house on an elevated ridge protected on two sides by the loch and on the other two sides by the burn and glen to form a moat, suggest it was created in a defensive role. The 4th Earl of Rothes granted Pitcairlie to his second son, Sir Patrick Leslie, who afterwards became 1st Lord of Lindores in 1600.

The most famous person connected with the house was a son of Sir Patrick Leslie, namely Major General David Leslie, who was born at Pitcairlie. Having served in the army of Gustavaus Adolphus, he commanded the Scottish forces in the days of the Covenant. During the Civil War, he fought on both sides, at one time leading a dashing cavalry charge which was prominent in deciding the Battle of Marston Moor for Cromwell in 1644. Later in the conflict, he rose to the rank of Commander-in-Chief of the royalist forces and shared in Charles I's defeat at Worcester in 1651. He was imprisoned thereafter, but was created Lord Newark at the Restoration.

Another son of Sir Patrick Leslie became 2nd Lord of Lindores, but his death in 1649 left the estate in financial disarray. This led to the Court of Session granting Pitcairlie to a creditor, John Bayne, in 1667, thus ending 355 years of ownership by the Leslie family.

In the mid 18th century, Pitcairlie was acquired by Colonel James Cathcart of Carbiston, whose family retained the estate until the mid 1960's. There were several notable members of this family, including Major James Cathcart, who had a distinguished miltary career in India; Captain Robert Cathcart, who served with distinction under Nelson at the Battle of the Nile and in the Baltic; and Robert Cathcart, who was appointed Vice-Lieutenant of Fife in 1886.