'Balvaird Castle by kind permission of Historic Scotland. Image available

for print sales'.
Balvaird Castle lies just within the border of Perthshire on the eastern side of the Ochil Hills. Balvaird from the Gaelic is taken to mean "The township of the Bard".
The estate was originally owned by the Barclay family and the present tower house is thought to have been built by Sir Andrew Murray who had married Margaret Murry in the late 15th century. In 1631 The Rev. Andrew Murray succeeded to the title and some ten years later he was elevated by Charles I to the title of Lord of Balvaird. Rev. Andrew Murray was unpopular with the Covenanters and it's thought that Charles I bestowed the title to annoy the Covenanters as much as to reward the Rev. Murray. The tower was occupied by the family until they inherited the Earldom of Mansfield and then in 1658 the family moved to Scone Palace near Perth which came with the title.
Although technically still owned by the Earl of Mansfield, Balvaird is now administered by Historic Scotland. File 7728.