Falkland Royal Palace
Falkland

Visitor information
St Andrews

Falkland Palace

Falkland, situated in historic Fife, shot to importance in the 14th century when the Stewart monarchy acquired Falkland Castle from Macduff, the Thane of Fife. Unlike the Picts who had built a fort on the East Lomond for defensive purposes the Stewarts were most interested in Falkland as a place of sport and relaxation. The name of Falkland is associated with falconry which was one of the popular sports in the area and the Howe of Fife with its vast forests was ideal for hawking as well as hunting deer and wild boar.
 

   Falkland Palace

Falkland royal palace

    It was adopted as a Royal residence by James II in the mid 15th century and work began to convert it into a more comfortable property. Yet for all its splendour the Palace was often cloaked in the intrigue of Scottish politics. In 1402 the Duke of Rothesay, son of Robert III, was imprisoned in the Palace by his uncle the Duke of Albany and eventually died a cruel death from neglect and starvation. James V was ill at Falkland when he heard that his wife had given birth to a daughter - Mary Queen of Scots.

When the Royal court moved to London in 1603, following the succession of James VI to the English throne, Falkland Palace was seldom visited and remained in the care of a Keeper. The Keepers of the palace were not usually resident and the building was left empty until decay set in and the palace fell into ruin.
 The 3rd Marquis of Bute set about restoring much of the palace when he took over the Keepership but died before the work was complete. In 1952 the National Trust for Scotland took over the care and maintenance of the property.  
     
     

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