Tarvit Tower History
Tarvit Tower was erected between 1550 and 1579 for the Inglis but was purchased in 1611 by John Scot who renamed it Scotstarvit. It is his initials and those of his wife, Anne Drummond, which appear on the panel over the cap-house door. He was noted as the author of The Staggering State of the Scots Statesmen.
The estate later passed to the Wemyss family followed by Frederick Sharp in 1904. The castle was placed in care in 1941, and gifted to the National Trust of Scotland in 1949 by Miss E C Sharp.
Scotstarvit (Tarvit Tower) is a very fine and complete ashlar tower built on a rock outcrop, L-shaped in plan, the arched doorway leads to the vaulted ground floor, and the corbels survive for the missing wooden entresol floor.
The turnpike stair in the wing leads to the first-floor hall with its large fireplace, windows with seats, slop-chute, and laird’s lug. The ceiling is of timber. There are some carved stones on the floor here, one from 1723. The second floor is again vaulted, the third having a missing timber ceiling.
There may have been a dovecote in this story, there being two block openings for birds in the walls. A fireplace that existed here is now incorporated into the Hill of Tarvit.
The stair, which is 75 steps high, is followed up to the cap-house, with a stone roof. Over the doorway is a panel with the initials SIS DAD IS AD 1627. The parapet walk can be followed right around the tower, and the roof is of flagstones.
Scotstarvit Tower Location
Directions: A916, Fife KY15. There are directions signs on the road that indicates Scotstarvit Tower.