Scone Palace

A brief history of Scone Palace

An ancient royal residence
Just a few miles north of Perth and perched above the River Tay is Scone Palace (pronounced "Scoon"), one of Scotlands' most important historical places of interest. With the Grampian mountains as a distant backdrop, it has been the home of the Earls of Mansfield for more than 400 years.

Originally a medieval town, Scone was the location of a monastery and a royal residence. Regarded as the capital of the Kingdom of Scotland, it has been the seat of parliaments and was an important royal centre, becoming a coronation place for the Kingdoms monarchs. 

Stone of Scone
Perhaps the item most frequently associated with the Palace is the famous Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny or Jacobs Pillow. An oblong block of red sandstone, it is thought that the stone was brought to the abbey at Scone in the 9th century by Kenneth MacAlpine, where it remained for some 500 years. It was a throne of sorts, which all the Kings of Scotland were crowned - Robert Bruce in 1306, through to  Charles II in 1651.

The stone at Westminster Abbey
The stone was seized by King Edward I of England in 1296 and removed to Westminster Abbey, placed beneath the Coronation Chair. Edward regarded it as giving him superior status over Scotland's King. It was used in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It remained in Westminster Abbey until 1996 when, mainly for political reasons, it was returned to Scotland and is now in Edinburgh Castle.  

Religious centre
Scone is among some of the most historically rich and interesting places in Scotland. The Picts regarded it as an important religious centre and considered it their capital. Before becoming an Augustinian priory, it had been a Christian church. With an Abbot living in the priory, it became an Abbot's Palace and became known as Scone Palace. 

Damaged by unrest fermented by the firebrand Presbyterian reformer, John Knox, during the Scottish Reformation, the abbey was restored and became the Earl of Mansfield's home. It remains the family home to this day. It is a splendid castellated mansion built around its 16th-century core. 

Visiting Scone Palace
The interior of the Palace is truly sumptuous, with a large number of rooms open to visitors. On display in the State Room is a fantastic collection of objets d'art, including 17th and 18th-century ivories collected by the 4th Earl. Also on display, paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir David Wilkie, and Johann Zoffany.

The library houses one of the foremost collections of porcelain in the world with Meissen, Sevres, Chelsea, Derby, and Worcester. Other items include Marie Antoinette's writing desk, china, and ivory statuettes. 

Scone Palace grounds
Home to a wide variety of wildlife and flanked by the River Tay, the Palace has around 100 acres of grounds and gardens. Immediately in front of the Palace is Moot Hill, the crowning place for the Kings of Scotland in ancient times. Sitting atop the hill is a tiny Presbyterian Chapel with a replica of the famous Stone of Scone in front. 

At one time, the village of Scone was within the grounds of the Palace. With the Gothic Palace's rebuilding in 1803, the entire settlement was relocated two miles down the road and became 'New Scone.'

The grounds are home to some truly magnificent trees.  Among them are giant redwoods and Douglas firs. A particularly fascinating feature of the estate is the Murray Star Maze. Planted in 1991 and covering some 1600 sq metres, the maze has over 2000 beech trees and 800 metres of paths. 

Touring and accommodation
Scone Palace has many stories that interweave with Scotland's history. Visiting the Palace gives you an insight into intriguing events that have shaped Scotland. If you have Scottish ancestry, a visit here is a must. Our Classic Tour of Scotland is an ideal itinerary for the first visit to Scotland. 

Fonab Castle Hotel and Spa in the resort town of Pitlochry is perfectly situated to tour the Cairngorms and Perthshire. Staying in the central region of Scotland makes logistical sense if you prefer to take day tours and change hotels frequently. You can tour much of Scotland's important historic sites from the central region. Gleneagles Hotel is in the perfect location to travel to the Trossachs National Park, the Highlands, Whisky Trail, St Andrews and Scone Palace.

Experience 4x4 Off-Road Driving in Scotland, choose between various picturesque sites.