Torwood Castle

Torwood Castle stands in central Scotland near the village of Torwood, Falkirk. It is a ruined 16th-century L-plan castle set in a quiet wooded area. The castle was built around 1566 for Sir Alexander Forrester, replacing an earlier estate held by the Foresters of Garden. Clan Baillie later took ownership before it passed to George, 1st Lord Forrester in 1635. Regent Morton used the castle as a base in 1575 before a rebellion against the crown. The site was designated a Category A listed building in 1979 but now faces neglect. The castle is worth visiting for its historical importance and ongoing preservation efforts. Gordon Millar bought it in 1957 and stabilised parts of the structure before setting up a trust to protect it. Local man Gary Grant moved into the castle in 2018 to prevent vandalism after believing the trust had ended. The trust now works to secure its future with professional help, as it is the only castle left in the Falkirk district. Visitors find a roofless three-storey ruin with a vaulted ground floor and an attic. The short wing contains a staircase with gables at both ends. Excavations in 1999 uncovered a kitchen and a well room in the north range. Little remains of the cobbled courtyard or its surrounding buildings. The surrounding woodland adds to the atmosphere of this historic but fragile site.