Ballumbie Castle, Ballumbie Road, Dundee

Ballumbie Castle, dating from the 14th to 15th centuries, with additions made in 1810, is a quadrangular-plan structure now largely roofless. It comprises the ruins of a castle to the east and partially to the south, with the remaining ranges likely dating to 1810 when the whole structure was consolidated and extended as a stable court for Ballumbie House. The castle is constructed of grey stugged rubble sandstone masonry, with droved pink ashlar quoins for the 1810 additions, originally covered with a slate roof. It features round angle towers to the east and square angle pavilions to the west. Architectural details include arrow slits, cross ventilators, gun loops, small openings with chamfered margins, and a crenellated parapet on the west elevation, which is partially broken down.

The east elevation has a central wall with two horizontal window openings at a lower level and two gun loops mid-way up. Above, there are five roll-moulded armorial panels, displaying coats of arms to the left and centre (with others missing), and evidence of removed window openings at the wallhead. A round tower to the right features three gun loops and a small opening, while a round tower to the left has a small opening, a roll-moulded window, and a gun loop. A probable garderobe is located at the re-entrant angle to the right, corbelled 4 metres from the ground and later extended down to ground level with a chute at its base. There is a chamfered aperture to its right.

The south elevation’s central wall features a coat of arms within a roll-moulded panel to the right, and the remains of a bellcote at the wallhead. The round tower to the right has a gun loop and a blank roll-moulded panel at the top. A pavilion projects to the left, featuring an arrow slit ventilator on the ground floor and a cross vent above.

The west elevation showcases a depressed carriage arch centrally, with a door and window to the left, and a door and cart opening to the right. Pavilions project to the left and right, each with square-headed entrances at ground floor level and tripartite windows above.

The north elevation presents paired round towers to the left, incorporating a gun loop and an arrowslit ventilator. A bay projects to the right, incorporating a lean-to and an enclosing livestock wall further advanced. A pavilion is situated to the far right, mirroring the design of the south elevation.

The interior of the easternmost round towers includes vaulted chambers, with a dovecot situated in the southeast tower. The inner skin of the east wall was removed and replaced with brick for stable lining, although evidence of surviving early masonry remains visible in the south wall. The internal walls of 1810, which originally formed an open central court, are now ruinous, but their openings remain apparent.