Airth Castle Central Scotland

Tour Scotland Spring 4K travel video of Airth Castle, overlooking the village of Airth and the River Forth, on visit to the Falkirk area of Central Scotland. The family of Airth is mentioned in the 13th century, but the present building is associated rather with the Bruces of Airth who had acquired the estate by the middle of the 15th century. 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 destroyed after the defeat of King James III at Sauchieburn in 1488. 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. Airth Castle was owned by the Bruces, Jacobite sympathizers who were forced to sell after the failure of the 1715 rebellion. The castle, which is now a hotel, is said to be haunted and reported phenomena 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. Additionally, a ghost dog, with a predilection for biting ankles, is believed to roam the hallways. A groundsman reportedly haunts the lower floor of the castle. The surname Airth was first found in the county of Stirling, Gaelic: Siorrachd Sruighlea, a former county in central Scotland, which now makes up parts of the Council Areas of East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Stirling, where they were long settled in the barony of Airth near Larbert, Stirlingshire.

John Airth, arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1749; James Airth, arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1749; Ester Airth, arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1750; Jane Airth, arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1750.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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