Clackmannanshire's Tower Trail guides you around the former homes of significant families and figures in the history of Clackmannanshire. These include the Bruce, Erskine, Alexander, Stewart & Shaw families. Probably due to Clackmannanshire's significant role in Scotland's history, we have more medieval tower houses per square mile than anywhere else in Scotland.
Each of the "Towers" evolved over several centuries in several cases we can only imagine how beautiful the residences would have been at their best as many of them have large parts or whole sections which have been demolished.
Three of the towers (Alloa, Clackmannan & Sauchie) had at different times mansions that were attached to them which have now totally disappeared. Some of the towers are also being gradually restored or at least stabilised so they can be restored in the future.
The Tower Trail is made up of four tower buildings, a former windmill and a Manor House: -
Alloa Tower - Alloa
Alloa Tower Sits proudly within the town of Alloa. This Tower was built in the 1300's and was the residence of the Erskine's, otherwise known as the family of The Earl of Mar. To this day the Tower is one of the finest examples of Tower properties in Scotland. Over the years many alterations were made including the addition of a mansion house around 1702. Unfortunately, the Mansion house was totally destroyed by fire in 1800. The Tower was restored to how it may have looked in 1712 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth formally opened it in 1992.
Castle Campbell - Dollar
Castle Campbell Sits in the valley just above Dollar. The tower element of the Castle is believed to have been built in the late 14th century by the Stewart family. Later the Campbell family of Argyll altered the property to how it now looks. They used the Castle Campbell as their lowland residence until 1652, when it became a Garrison for Cromwell's troops. The Castle was at this point attacked by Royalist Rebels who set fire to the Castle over 2 nights. The Castle was later bought by J.E. Harvieston, who gifted it in 1950 to Historic Scotland.
Clackmannan Tower - Clackmannan
Once known as Clackmannan Castle, Clackmannan Tower sits atop King's Seat Hill looking over the town of Clackmannan. This Tower was a residence of King Robert the Bruce and his descendants. The tower was modified over many years, with a second tower being added, and later a mansion house. Lady Catherine Bruce was the last member of the Bruce family to live in the property. The last person to live within the tower and mansion was a "commonly ploughman". The mansion was later demolished and very few signs of it can now be seen.
Menstrie Castle - Menstrie
Menstrie Castle sits within Menstrie village itself and cannot be seen as you drive through the town. The castle was built around 1560 as a manor house for the Alexander family. Sir William Alexander, Principal Secretary of State for Scotland made improvements to the castle in 1633. After becoming derelict the property was remodelled into flats and has a display area within two ground floor rooms, which is now owned by Clackmannanshire Council.
Sauchie Tower - Old Sauchie
Sauchie Tower sits on the outskirts of Fishcross in an area once known as Sauchie, now known as Old Sauchie. The Tower was built around 1431 by Sir James Schaw after he married into the Annand family, who's ancestor had been gifted the lands of Sauchie by King Robert Bruce in 1321. The Schaw family remained residents in the tower and Sauchie House, that was later added, until 1710 when they moved to a new mansion Schawpark House, they had built in the Schawpark area of Sauchie. The mansion house was demolished in 1930 and the tower allowed to become derelict. Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust now own the tower and plan to restore the tower.
Auchinbaird Windmill - Sauchie
Auchinbaird Windmill, also known as Sauchie Doocot, is a former windmill on the outskirts of (New) Sauchie and Fishcross. The windmill was built around the end of the 17th century and has been modified and repaired to what it has become now. The windmill was a later addition to the tower trail, signposted from the main Sauchie - Fishcross Road.
Travelling the tower trail
The entire Tower Trail can be easily travelled by car in a few hours. There are also many cycle routes throughout Clackmannanshire which would make safely cycling around the trail possible too. Public transport would be possible but may mean it would be difficult to visit all the trail sites in one day. For a keen walker who likes rural routes, the trail would be an amazing and picturesque adventure, but due to the distances it would possibly take a couple of days to complete the trail. Several of the Towers are on hills and don't have disabled access unfortunately, for the sites that are open, times of opening vary and those which need restoration may only be open for guided tours on specific days of the year.
Along the Trail you will pass through several of the small communities that make up Clackmannanshire most of which have remnants of their own history as well as some interesting shops and places to eat. There are many walks to be enjoyed whether up the Glens of the Ochil Hills, or the hills themselves, or some of the paths along the lowlands of the area as well as a stroll around the villages and towns of the county.