Airth Castle

Airth Castle stands on a rise above the village of Airth, overlooking the River Forth in the Falkirk area of Scotland. The oldest part is the southwest tower, built soon after 1488 when an earlier castle was destroyed. A mid-16th-century extension was added on the east side. The castle retains much medieval fabric and is listed as a Category A historic building by Historic Environment Scotland. Within its grounds lie the ruins of the former parish church of Airth. A fire in September 2024 damaged parts of the former hotel building.

The castle’s history includes a 1298 raid by William Wallace to free his uncle, a priest from Dunipace. Mary Bruce, daughter of the laird, was a companion of Mary, Queen of Scots. The Falcones family, Jacobite supporters, sold the property after the 1715 rising. The castle was later run as a hotel and spa until the operator ceased trading in 2023. Ghost stories add to its reputation, with reports of a nanny and children, phantom footsteps, and a ghost dog.

Visitors find a historic building with medieval walls and the remains of the parish church in its grounds. The southwest tower and 16th-century extension remain visible. Rooms once used by guests now stand empty after the hotel closed. Ghostlore tells of a nanny with children, children’s voices in certain rooms, and heavy footsteps near room 14. A groundsman is said to haunt the lower floor, while a phantom dog patrols the hallways.