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The long whitewashed church of St Mary's, Grandtully, beyond a carved gravestone in the grass.
Perthshire

St Mary’s Grandtully

A plain whitewashed church in the fields above Grandtully, hiding one of only two painted church ceilings of the 1600s left in Scotland.

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Welcome

Up a farm road above the village of Grandtully, among fields and a scatter of old gravestones, stands a long, low building of whitewashed stone with a slate roof.

From outside it could be a byre. Inside, the ceiling is painted.

Around 1636, Sir William Stewart of Grandtully and his wife, Dame Agnes Moncrieffe, lengthened the church and gave it a painted wooden ceiling. It is one of only two church ceilings of the 1600s left in Scotland, the other being at Largs. Across its curved boards are painted coats of arms, apostles and saints, angels, proverbs and flowers, and at the very centre a man on his deathbed awaiting judgement.

The church has been in the care of the state since 1954 and is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. It is free to visit and open every day.

A short drive awayDewar's AberfeldyThe distillery built by John Dewar's sons in 1898.5 min by roadSee itDewar's Aberfeldy
Before you go

Free.

Open every day, from half past nine until half past five from April to September, and from ten until four from October to March.

Where
Above Grandtully, off the A827 between Aberfeldy and Ballinluig, PH15 2EQ.
Run by
Historic Environment Scotland.

Opening hours

Monday
10am–4pm
Tuesday
10am–4pm
Wednesday
10am–4pm
Thursday
10am–4pm
Friday
10am–4pm
Saturday
10am–4pm
Sunday
10am–4pm
Where it is

On the hillside above Grandtully in Strathtay, a short walk from the farm road.

Close byStrathtay.
  1. Stone building with striped awnings and dormer windows under grey skiesGrandtully Hotel3 miles6 min by road
  2. The Grandtully, PerthshireThe Grandtully3 miles6 min by road
  3. Iain Burnett shopfront with Gifts & Chocolate Tastings signage and red postbox outsideIain Burnett Highland Chocolatier3 miles6 min by road
  4. The Birks of AberfeldyThe Birks of AberfeldyThe wooded glen and falls that Burns wrote a song about.4 miles8 min by road
  5. Castle MenziesCastle MenziesThe sixteenth-century seat of the Clan Menzies by Weem.5 miles12 min by road
Directions
Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery sign in front of the ivy-covered stone buildingAttractionsDewar's Distillery2.7 miles
Dewar's Aberfeldy distillery sign in front of ivy-covered stone buildingAttractionsDewar's Aberfeldy2.7 miles
Timber-clad Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters building with picnic benches outsideCafeGlen Lyon Coffee Roastery and Cafe3.0 miles
The Tay Cafe & Takeaway shopfront with framed pictures and a chalkboard menu outsideRestaurantsThe Tay3.1 miles
Aberfeldy Watermill Bookshop & Cafe, AberfeldyCafeAberfeldy Watermill Bookshop & Cafe3.3 miles
Aberfeldy Gallery shopfront with framed paintings displayed in the windowAttractionsAberfeldy Gallery3.4 miles
A red sandstone and grey stone Victorian house stands wreathed in morning mist, a shrub with orange autumn leaves in the foreground.PerthshireThe House at Dun AluinnSleeps 18 · 4.0 miles
Moss-covered rock face carved into a profile among woodland foliageAttractionsSt David's Well4.4 miles
Stone farm buildings beyond a wildflower meadow, backed by dense woodlandShoppingBallintaggart4.9 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the church, and when each is next free.

A red sandstone and grey stone Victorian house stands wreathed in morning mist, a shrub with orange autumn leaves in the foreground.The House at Dun Aluinn
  • Sleeps 18
  • In Perthshire
  • 3 miles from St Mary's
Check datesLittle Pheasant, PerthshireLittle Pheasant
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Perthshire
  • 6 miles from St Mary's
Check datesAn aerial view shows a stone and timber cottage with a round hot tub in the garden, hills rising behind a dry stone wall.Pheasant Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Perthshire
  • 6 miles from St Mary's
Check datesA stone cottage with a gabled dormer window catches evening light among autumn trees, a bench and picnic table on the gravel outside.Charlottefield
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Perthshire
  • 7 miles from St Mary's
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in PerthshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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