Falkland Palace & Garden — Attraction in Great Britain

Whit can we say that hasna been said aboot this braw gem o’ a place? We made our wye tae Falkland Palace on a brisk October day, the kind that gies ye clean chowks an’ maks ye feel alive, an’ I’m here tae tell ye, the hale experience was jist grand. It’s nae jist a pile o’ auld stanes; it’s a livin’, breathin’ thing, an’ we left feelin’ we’d shaken hauns wi’ history.

First, a word on the practicalities. For onybody drivin’, we had nae bother findin’ a spot for the motor. The on-street parkin’ was free for the takin’ in October, which is aye a welcome bonus, savin’ the siller for a fine piece an’ a cuppie later.

Noo, for the palace itsel’. Let me tell ye, it’s a sicht for sair een. As ye come up on it, the Renaissance façade is jist stunnin’, a proper royal hoose nestled in the hert o’ Fife. It doesna feel like a museum, but like ye’ve stepped back through time an’ the laird an’ lady micht jist be doon the close. The guide buke will tell ye it was the favourite howff o’ the Stewart monarchs, an’ efter seein’ it, ye can fair believe it.

The guides, man, the guides! They were the heid o’ the parade. They werena jist gien us a list o’ dates an’ facts. Naw, naw. They were the heid o’ the parade. They were storytellers, pure an’ simple, an’ their passion for the place was catchin’. They painted pictures wi’ their words, tellin’ us tales o’ King James V an’ Mary, Queen o’ Scots, that made the history leap aff the waw. They were gey frien’ly an’, maist importantly, hoonest. They telt us straight that some o’ the famous tapestries were aff the waws an’ awa’ for safekeepin’ while a passagewey was gettin’ a needed mend. We could see the wark gaun on, an’ it didna spoil a thing. In fact, it added tae it – it showed this isna a deid place, but a livin’ hoose that needs care, like ony auld hoose.

Inside, the Royal Apartments are jist magnificent. Even withoot some tapestries, the atmosphere is thick wi’ the past. Ye can staun in the King’s Bedroom an’ imagine him waukin’ there. The furniture, the paintins, the heraldic glass – it’s a’ a feast for the een. The Chapel Royal is a wee, quiet sanctuary, a bonnie spot for a moment’s peace.

But hear me noo, for the crownin’ glory for me was the Real Tennis Court. No’ jist ony tennis court, mind! It’s the auldest in the warld still in use, frae the 1500s. Staunin’ there, lookin’ at thae auld waws, ye can near hear the thud o’ the ba’ an’ the cheers o’ the courtiers. It’s a thrill for onybody that appreciates history ye can touch.

We finished our dauner wi a turn aroon the gairdens. Even in the back-end o’ the year, they were a peaceful delight. The Orchard, the physic gairden, the ancient yew hedges – it’s a’ managed wi’ a lovin’ haun, a perfect complement tae the grandeur o’ the palace.

A’ thegither, it was a day oot that had the lot: braw scenery, deep history, brilliant storytellers, an’ a wheen o’ hame truths aboot keepin’ our heritage alive. It’s a place that deserves its five stars an’ then some. We’ll be back, nae doot aboot it, an’ we’d urge onybody wi’ a hert for Scotland’s story tae dae the same. A pure,...

During our recent trip to Scotland, we searched for dog-friendly attractions in Fife and came across the Falkland Palace Halloween Trail, which was being promoted on social media. The event promised a “thrilling” trail through the gardens, a “magical” day out, and an experience that was both family and dog friendly.

According to the event description, “Each trail costs £4 per child and includes a spooktacular prize at the end. Adults go free and there are no extra costs for admission into the gardens. Usual admission applies to entry into the Palace.” Based on that information, we assumed that entry to the gardens would be free for adults and that the only fee would be the small charge for the children’s trail.

When we arrived with our 7 month old daughter and our two dogs, we were told that the garden ticket was no longer available. Since we were not planning to visit the Palace itself, the staff offered to process our entry as an “accessibility ticket.” Unfortunately, their system did not allow that option, so instead they processed two child tickets, which came to a shocking total of £19 just to enter the gardens. The entire ticketing process felt disorganized, and it seemed as though the staff were unsure of how the pricing was meant to work.

To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. The “trail” turned out to be a small field with a bale of hay and a few pumpkins arranged for photos. The “woods” area featured a few witch hats hanging from the trees, which appeared to be the full extent of the Halloween trail. It felt like minimal effort had been put into creating the event.

The tennis courts were dirty and neglected, with bird droppings covering nearly every surface. The pathway overlooking the courts was lined with what appeared to be cat litter trays, also covered in fecal matter. The entire area felt unkept and uninviting, a stark contrast as the tennis courts were once regal and used by royalty.

The event’s social media promotion gave the impression of a magical, family-friendly experience, but the reality was the complete opposite. In hindsight, it is clear that the marketing materials were written using AI, which explains the overly polished language that does not reflect the actual experience on-site.

The gardens themselves are small with nothing notable to actually see, and certainly not worth the £19 entry fee. It feels as though the National Trust is depending too heavily on AI marketing rather than genuine care or creativity in what they offer visitors.

The only redeeming part of our visit was the friendly and helpful staff in the gift shop, who deserve credit for their kindness and the dogs appreciated...

The palace was very interesting to walk around. The lady on the desk was very pleasant and helpful with our tickets. Lovely staff on hand to talk about various rooms and the history of the palace. It’s largely well preserved but it is a shame some parts are in need of funding to repair and restore. As I love older buildings I find this sad and wish somehow it could be funded, for example, to restore the open area by the kings room and queens room to as close to its origin state with a roof and so on. We were informed that the herb garden was one a grand hall too, so it’s a shame it’s reduced to what it is. The history is fascinating and the palace is beautiful. No photography allowed inside which is ok. Many original artefacts on view, the intricate details on some are brilliant on close inspection but they are very delicate so no touching! There was a large bed in one room which the staff had a torch to show us the inscriptions, date and detail with which I was grateful for as it was a beautiful piece of furniture. The gardens were also beautiful. Things are just starting to grow with it being April and it will soon be stunning when everything blooms. We didn’t manage to explore all the gardens but what we did see was very impressive. Would visit again as would be nice to see the gardens at different times of year. There’s a wooden shed in one area with outdoor games which is good for families and so on. Lovely to be out in nature and with stunning views of the Lomond hills. The labyrinth was fun and there’s a large outdoor chess board and pieces to play with close to the gift shop. The gift shop is lovely with many items available from books to plushies, scarves, jewellery and even...