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A palace of grandeur

Falkland Palace is steeped in history. Not only has Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here, but so has King James V, King James VI (and I) and also Oliver Cromwell’s troops. Falkland Palace and Gardens are open to the public between the 1st March and 31st October each year. Such a visit makes for a glorious day out walking through Scottish history and stunning landscapes. Only a 30-minute drive west from Elderburn Lodges near St Andrews, it’s the perfect location to transport you to a distant time and touch the same walls as the people who shaped the course of Scottish history.

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Falkland Palace

Falkland Palace was built as a playground for the rich in the early 1500s. For Kings James IV and James V it was a palace of grandeur. You can still see much of this today in the stunning interior. From the drawing room to the library and bedrooms, life as a royal certainly seemed pretty nice back in the day!

You can see the (separate) beds that King James VI and Mary Queen of Scots slept in. Discover the ornate panels and wall hangings decorating the rooms and corridors. Do make sure you visit the Chapel Royal, the only place you can see original 16th- and 17th-century details. It was also here that the body of King James V laid in state over Christmas and new year between 1542 – 1543.

And finally, a must-see if the tennis court – the oldest in Britain. Built in 1538 by James V who would have played the game in France, it’s a different game altogether from the strawberries and cream version we know today! Even the roof of the spectator area was fair game when playing.

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The palace gardens

The gardens make for a splendid place to walk and enjoy the flowers, shrubs and trees here. Designed by Percy Cane, the formal gardens show off the types of plants which can grow in this part of Scotland, with great views of the palace to be had too.

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Outlander at Falkland Palace

Fans of the TV show Outlander may recognise a few locations when visiting Falkland Palace! Not only was the town of Falkland used as a stand-in for Inverness in seasons 1 and 2, one of the palace’s East Range cellars became an apothecary for an episode. So when you visit Falkland, perhaps you can time travel in more ways than one!

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Check opening times

Falkland Palace and gardens close over the winter months, so be sure to factor this into your visit. However, there are regular events on throughout the year, including at Christmas which can include a visit from Santa. Book your stay with Elderburn Lodges in Fife today and start planning your trip back through time at Falkland Palace and Gardens when you are here.

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Detail on the exterior of Falkland Palace.

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Testimonials

We stayed in lodge 4 which was by far the best holiday accommodation we have ever stayed in, immaculate, spacious, so well equipped. The books, DVDs and board games were an extra touch and came in handy for some family time after exploring during the day. The surrounding area is beautiful and so many things to see and do nearby. West Sands beach is clean and beautiful and Bishop’s Wood and Craigtoun Country Park about a mile away are both worth a look. There are so many things we didn’t get chance to explore so I think we will be back. I think we will struggle to find any other accomodation as nice as this. Many thanks to Anne and the team.

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