Overview of Fowlis Castle

A simple rectangular tower house, Fowlis Castle lies on the southern margin of the village of Fowlis, 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Dundee. Comprising three storeys and an attic, together with a stair tower with a conical cap, the castle which remains today was built in 1640 but was once part of a much larger mediaeval structure arranged around a courtyard. No trace of these earlier buildings now remain. The Lady's Tower was added later.

The surrounding lands were given to the Maule family in 1130 by King David I, but became the property of the Mortimers and then passed to the Grays by marriage in 1377. They erected a castle here around this time and it was their principal residence until they moved to the larger Castle Huntly in 1452. Fowlis remained the property of the Grays until it was sold to Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre in 1669. After they moved to more comfortable surroundings it served, for a time, as the village tavern. By the mid-19th century the structure had fallen into disrepair and became a dwelling for labourers. It then became a farm building, but was later partially restored as a farm-house.