Airth Castle

Airth Castle is a castle overlooking the village of Airth and the River Forth, in the Falkirk area of Scotland. Until 2023, the castle operated as a hotel and spa.

Airth Castle
Airth Castle, seen from the south
Coordinates	56.06131°N 3.77138°W / 56.06131; -3.77138
Listed Building – Category A
Designated	25 October 1972
Reference no.	LB2102
Location of Airth Castle in Falkirk

History

According to an account attributed to Blind Harry, in 1298 William Wallace attacked a previous wooden fortification on this site to rescue his imprisoned uncle, a priest from Dunipace. A later castle was burnt or destroyed after the defeat of King James III at Sauchieburn in 1488, and Robert Bruce of Airth was given £100 Scots towards rebuilding.^[1] The southwest tower is the earliest part, dating to the period immediately thereafter. An extension was added on the east side in the mid 16th century.^[2]

Airth Castle was owned by Falcones. Mary Bruce, a daughter of the laird of Airth, was a companion of Mary, Queen of Scots in England.^[3] The family were Jacobite sympathizers who were forced to sell after the failure of the 1715 rising.

The castle is a major historic building that retains much medieval fabric. As such, Historic Environment Scotland has designated it a Category A listed building.^[4] The ruins of the former parish church of Airth are within the grounds.

Airth Castle is owned by Airth Castle Limited and was operated by Airth Castle Hotel & Spa, a company formed in 2004. It was a popular wedding venue. The operator entered administration and ceased trading in March 2023.^[5]

Parts of the Airth Castle Hotel building were destroyed when a fire broke out during the early hours of 23 September 2024.^[6]

Ghostlore

The castle, like many in the area, has a variety of ghostlore stories associated with it. These stories include:

• Sightings of a nanny with two young children who are said to have died in a fire at the castle.
• The sound of children playing being heard in rooms 3, 4, 9 and 23.
• Heavy footsteps can be heard outside room 14 before suddenly stopping and disappearing.
• People have also reported hearing cries and screams believed to be from a maid who was attacked by her master and left to die.
• A ghost dog, with a predilection for biting ankles, is believed to roam the hallways.^[7][8]
• A groundsman reportedly haunts the lower floor of the castle.^[9]