What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 9:30am - 4:30pm

The Black Watch Castle & Museum

Name: The Black Watch Castle & Museum
Address: Balhousie Castle, Hay Street, Perth, PH15HR, GB
Telephone: +441738638152
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.8

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Perth, Scotland
The Black Watch Castle & Museum

Castle | Shop | Bistro | Museum
Our museum tells the story of The Black Watch Regiment from their formation in 1739 to their amalgamation in 2006.
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We are located on the edge of the North Inch in Perth with a free customer car park. The Black Watch Castle and Museum is a 5 star award winning visitor attraction located in the beautiful city of Perth, Scotland. The Black Watch Museum is housed within the historic Balhousie Castle, the origins of which are said to date back to the 12th century. A visit to the ancestral Home of The Black Watch br

ings this glorious Highland Regiment’s history vibrantly to life, through artefacts, personal stories and interactive displays. Relax and unwind in the welcome ambience of the Bistro @ The Castle. The seasonal menu offers an appealing selection of meals, snacks, soups, desserts and afternoon tea created with quality ingredients of local provenance. We also serve afternoon tea, traditional Sunday lunch, and offer evening dining during the Summer months. Browse the popular Castle Gift Shop to find a range of quality gifts, regimental memorabilia and branded products with an emphasis on providing an enjoyable shopping experience within a Scottish Castle. The Black Watch Castle and Museum is a unique and compelling location which can also host weddings, offer private dining, exclusive use of the Castle, group and bespoke tours. We look forward to welcoming you to the Home of The Black Watch

09/09/2026

Join us at The Black Watch Castle and Museum for an evening of remembrance, reflection and history as we come together to honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who served.

The evening will begin with a pre-dinner drinks reception, followed by a three-course meal in the surroundings of the Bistro.

This years archive readings will explor the life and experiences of Second Lieutenant Alexander “Hamish” Mann, a Black Watch officer and talented writer who served during the First World War. Drawing on his extensive archive, selections from his poetry, letters and personal writings will offer a personal insight into his experiences on the Western Front.

Live music throughout the evening will accompany the readings and provide an opportunity to pause, reflect and remember.

📅 Tuesday 10 November
⏰ Starts at 7pm
🎟 £60 per person

Spaces are limited, so advance booking is recommended.

Book your place: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/shop/events-lectures/an-evening-of-remembrance/

05/09/2026

Our new temporary exhibition, Sing, O Sad Heart, is now open at The Black Watch Castle and Museum.

The exhibition introduces Alexander James “Hamish” Mann, a young poet, playwright, writer and Black Watch soldier whose creative work continued alongside his military service during the First World War.

Hamish was born in Broughty Ferry in 1896 and began writing from an early age. By the time he arrived in France with The Black Watch in 1916, aged just 20, he had already written and published poetry and produced a number of plays.

The Museum is privileged to care for his extensive collection. Through his poetry, diaries, letters and personal papers, Sing, O Sad Heart offers an insight into Hamish’s writing, experiences and thoughts during a period of enormous change. The exhibition also looks at the relationship between The Black Watch, writing and the First World War, including the work of Dundee poet and illustrator Joseph Lee.

We opened the exhibition last night with The Friends of The Black Watch Castle and Museum, the donor of Hamish Mann’s collection and guests. Readings from Hamish’s poetry provided an opportunity to hear his own words and recognise the accomplishments and talents of this remarkable young man.

Sing, O Sad Heart is now open and available to visit at The Black Watch Castle and Museum.

📅 Open from Saturday 5 September 2026
🎟 Included with standard Museum admission
🔗 More Information: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/blog/exhibitions/sing-o-sad-heart/

01/09/2026

🔎 Last chance to join us for Mind Your Manors!

Tickets for our Murder Mystery Evening are only available until Monday 7 September at 12pm, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time to book.

Step into Cluckington Hall, where Lord Cluckington is preparing to unveil his latest work of art. But with suspicious characters, secrets to uncover and a body in the master bedroom, it’s up to you to work out who is responsible.

Your evening includes:

🥂 Drinks reception
🍽️ Three-course dinner in the Queen Mother Room
🎭 Interactive Murder Mystery performance by Scotland’s leading murder mystery company, Can You Catch the Killer

📅 Friday 11 September
⏰ Starts at 7pm
🎟️ £60 per person

Bring your friends, form a team or come along and put your detective skills to the test.

Book your place: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/shop/events-lectures/mind-your-manors-murder-mystery/

Will you solve the case?

30/08/2026

New Black Watch cufflinks and badges are now available in the Castle Gift Shop!

We’ve added several new designs featuring The Black Watch Regimental badge and colours, with cufflinks to suit different styles.

Choose from the Black Watch T-Bar cufflinks, featuring the Regimental badge, the Black Watch Knot and Barrel cufflinks in the Regimental colours, Chain cufflinks featuring the badge and colours, or the Navy Badge cufflinks featuring the Regimental badge.

There are also two new additions to our badge and brooch range: the Black Watch Shield pin badge in navy and the Black Watch Fob Brooch, featuring the Regimental badge suspended beneath a gold-tone bow.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for a Black Watch supporter, something to mark a connection to the Regiment or a new piece for yourself, these new items are available in store and online.

Browse the latest additions in the Castle Gift Shop or shop online: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/product-category/regimental-gifts-accessories/

28/08/2026

Coming soon: Sing, O Sad Heart – Hamish Mann: Poet, Playwright, Philosopher

What happens when a talented young writer’s plans for a life of creativity are interrupted by the First World War?

Opening Saturday 5 September, our new temporary exhibition tells the story of Alexander James “Hamish” Mann, a poet, playwright and writer who was commissioned into The Black Watch in 1915 at the age of 19.

From poetry and plays to diaries, letters and personal reflections, Hamish left behind an extensive body of work. The Museum is privileged to be the custodian of his archive, offering a unique insight into his creative life, his experiences of war and the thoughts he recorded along the way.

Sing, O Sad Heart brings together material from this remarkable archive to explore the many sides of Hamish Mann and the life he had planned for himself. Alongside Hamish’s story, the exhibition also explores poetry and creative work by other soldiers of The Black Watch during the First World War, including Dundee poet and illustrator Joseph Lee.

📅 Opening Saturday 5 September
🎟 Included with standard Museum admission
🔗 More Information: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/blog/exhibitions/sing-o-sad-heart/

Discover Hamish’s story and explore his archive in our new temporary exhibition at The Black Watch Castle and Museum.

25/08/2026

Planning your school visits for the year ahead?

Bring history beyond the classroom with a visit to The Black Watch Castle and Museum, where pupils can explore the history of Scotland’s oldest Highland Regiment through our galleries, collections and hands-on learning experiences.

Our school visits cover topics including the First and Second World Wars and the history of The Black Watch, with workshops and interactive experiences using real objects, stories and activities to bring history to life.

Can’t make it to the Museum? We can come to you. Our Outreach Service brings interactive, curriculum-linked sessions into the classroom using real objects, replica uniforms and stories from our collection and archive.

We’re also pleased to offer a School Bursary Scheme, supported by the Friends of The Black Watch Castle and Museum, to help schools with the essential costs of arranging a visit.

We’re now taking bookings for the 2026/27 school year and look forward to welcoming pupils and teachers from across Perth and Kinross and beyond.

Find out more about our school visits and make a booking through our website: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/visit/schools/

22/08/2026

Last chance to visit our temporary exhibition Highland Laddies, which closes on 30 August.

Highland Laddies tells the story of some of the youngest soldiers to have served in The Black Watch. From the 18th and 19th centuries through to the First World War, boys enlisted in the Regiment as drummer boys, buglers, stretcher bearers and, in some cases, front-line soldiers. The exhibition also explores the wider context of enlistment ages, both then and now.

While developing the exhibition, we searched our photograph archive for images of boys who served in The Black Watch throughout its history. One photograph identified two boys simply as “Boy G. Blair” and “Boy H. Wynd”.

Through further research, we have been able to uncover more about the life and service of Harry Wynd.

Read our latest blog to discover the story behind the photograph and learn more about Harry’s time with The Black Watch during the First World War.

👉 Read the blog: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/blog/black-watch-history/from-boy-to-soldier-the-story-of-harry-wynd/

20/08/2026

Step back in time for an afternoon of music, memories and nostalgia.

Join us on Thursday 24 September at 2pm as Michael Ellacott returns to The Black Watch Castle and Museum for another Sing-Along, bringing to life much-loved WW1 wartime songs including Keep the Home Fires Burning, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kitbag.

Whether you sing along or simply enjoy listening, this special afternoon offers the chance to enjoy familiar songs in the company of others, alongside a traditional afternoon tea served in the Museum.

Enjoy freshly made sandwiches, homemade scones with jam and cream, sweet treats, and tea or coffee while you sit back and enjoy an afternoon of music and conversation.

Places are limited and advance booking is recommended. Secure your place today:
https://theblackwatch.co.uk/shop/events-lectures/ww1-sing-along-with-michael-ellacott/

17/08/2026

At just 17 years old, Private Donald Pyott was killed in action during the First World War at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915.

He was killed alongside his friend, Private James Ross, who was also only 17 years old. Despite regulations stating that soldiers under the age of 19 should not serve on the front line, both boys were there with the knowledge that they were underage.

Donald was serving alongside his father, Sergeant Major Donald Pyatt. In the official history of the battalion, General Wauchope records that after the battle, as the men gathered to bury their dead, 'Sergeant -Major Pyatt... put (up) a white cross for his boy'.

Today, Donald and James are commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France, two of the 351 Black Watch soldiers who died that day in 1915 and for whom no individual grave exists.

This photograph and Donald’s medals are currently on display in our Highland Laddies temporary exhibition, where you can discover more stories of the young men who served with The Black Watch.

Last chance to visit the exhibition as it closes on 30th August.

14/08/2026

Looking for a more private setting for your next event or meeting?

The Wavell Room offers a character-filled space on the upper floor of The Black Watch Castle and Museum, overlooking the North Inch and providing a more intimate setting for smaller gatherings.

For private events, the room is ideal for family dinners, anniversaries and business celebrations, with the option to enjoy a drinks reception in the Museum galleries before sitting down to dinner.

The room can also be arranged for meetings, providing a private and focused setting for smaller groups, executive meetings and interviews.

Whether you’re planning a private dinner or looking for somewhere away from the usual meeting room, the Wavell Room offers a setting with a little more character.

Find out more about venue hire and our event spaces on our website: https://theblackwatch.co.uk/venue-hire/

Address

Balhousie Castle, Hay Street
Perth
PH15HR

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	9:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441738638152

Website

http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/, https://theblackwatch.co.uk/support-us/, https://theblackwatch.co.uk/venue-hire/, https

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