Fingask Castle is situated near the village of Rait about 1 mile (1.5km) north of the A85(T), some 8 miles (13km) north-east of Perth and some 10 miles (16km) west of Dundee. It lies on the west side of a deep ravine formed by Craig Burn, overlooking the Carse of Gowrie and the River Tay
and the Sidlaw Hill rise to the north. The policies are bordered by woodland which stretches alongside the ravine. The Castle stands 200' (61m) above the Carse of Gowrie and the gardens are protected from the cold easterly winds by woodland. The surrounding land is mainly farmed and
the Carse of Gowrie is primarily arable. There are extensive views from the terraces southwards across the Firth of Tay towards Fife. The stretches of woodland growing along the steeper slopes of the hillside contribute some variety to the surrounding flat landscape, particularly from the A85(T).
The Castle lies on the western side of the policies overlooking Craig Burn. The designed landscape extends along the escarpment to Eliza's Temple to the west, to Craighead to the east, to the Mill Dam to the north, and the road to Rait to the south. Documentary evidence for the extent of the designed landscape relies on General Roy's plan, dated 1750, and the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan, dated 1861. The terraces and a
small woodland block can be seen on the earlier plan but these were absorbed into the 19th century 'picturesque' design which can be clearly
seen on the 1861 OS plan and today extends to an area of some 344 acres (139ha).
The terraces stretch southwards from the Castle to the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Carse of Gowrie. On the east side, the 19th
century landscaping was designed along the Craig Burn.