Hill of Tarvit Mansion & Garden

Here, visitors can try their hand at croquet, billiards, and parlor games from the early 1900s. Alternatively, enjoy one of the three marked walks around the grounds—the Woodland Walk, the Hilltop Walk, or the Centenary Walk. Wander around the inside of the house, where you’ll find the main hall featuring Flemish tapestry, while the dining room displays fine English furniture, and the drawing room is home to French furniture and Rococo-style plasterwork. The fireplace in the smoking room is made of a remnant of nearby Scotstarvit Tower.

• The house has an admission fee; the gardens and grounds are free to visit.

• A front door ramp into the house allows visitors to access the ground floor and toilets. There is no disabled access to the top floors and gravel paths abound throughout the grounds.

• Guides are stationed throughout the mansion to answer questions and provide information.

Hill of Tarvit is located 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) south of Cupar, off A916. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Dundee and a little over an hour from Edinburgh. You can reach Cupar by train from both Dundee and Edinburgh. From there, it’s about a 6-minute drive or a 30-minute bus ride plus walking.

The garden and grounds surrounding the Hill of Tarvit Mansion are open daily from dawn till dusk. The mansion is open from April 1 to Oct. 29, Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm. The last entry is at 4pm. The Kingarrock Hickory golf course is open daily during the season (March 1-Oct. 31); tee times can be booked online.

Near the Hill of Tarvit Mansion, you’ll find Scotstarvit Tower, a well-preserved 1500s tower house with six stories and a garret. While it looks like it was built solely for defense purposes, the structure was a home, even though it had no kitchen; it’s believed it had been housed in an ancillary building.