Beta Help us improve: share your feedback on our new website.

View gallery

Climb to the top of one of Scotland’s most unusual historic sites. Abernethy round tower is one of only two Irish-style round towers in Scotland, and its origins remain a mystery.

The tower is believed to date from about 1100, and is thought to have served as the bell tower for an adjacent church. It’s about 22m high and 5m wide, and the climb to the top is well worth it for the sweeping views towards the Firth of Tay.

A Pictish symbol stone has been added to the outside face of the tower. The stone was unearthed in Abernethy’s School Wynd and mounted on the tower in the last century.

Abernethy Round Tower standing tall in a churchyard with old gravestones in the foreground, framed by leafy branches and set against an overcast sky.
A close-up of the tower’s raised wooden door, set in a rounded stone arch and reached by a small exterior staircase.
A distant view of Abernethy Round Tower rising above rooftops, seen from a narrow village lane lined with stone walls and houses.

Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man

Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online