Burleigh Castle

Sir John Balfour acquired the lands of Burleigh around 1445, establishing the foundation for what would become Burleigh Castle. The castle's history is deeply intertwined with the Balfour family, particularly with Robert Balfour, the 5th Lord Burleigh, who lost the estate in 1716 due to his involvement in the failed Jacobite Rising of 1715. This turbulent period in Scottish history left its mark on the castle and its surroundings.

The tower house, built around 1500, forms the original heart of Burleigh Castle. To the south and east of the tower house lay a quadrangular courtyard, though today only the round-arched front entrance and a projecting round tower remain. The west gable features decorative skewputts—carved stone projections at the base of the roof. These have inscriptions that date the construction to 1582 and identify the builders as Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich and his wife Margaret Balfour, the heiress of Burleigh.

Burleigh Castle is not only significant for its architecture but also for the intriguing stories associated with it. One of the most notable tales involves Robert Balfour, the 5th Lord Burleigh, who escaped from prison while awaiting execution for the murder of a local schoolmaster. He is said to have hidden in the hollow of an ancient ash tree, known locally as "Burleigh’s Hole," adding a layer of local legend and folklore to the site.

After the forfeiture of the estate in 1715, the lands around Burleigh Castle transitioned into agricultural use, and the buildings gradually fell into ruin. However, the main tower house remains as a legacy of the Balfour family.