Clackmannanshire Tower Trail

The Tower Trail is Clackmannanshire's latest major tourist attraction and will take you on a tour around the homes of the people who shaped Clackmannanshire.

It takes in four medieval towers and a manor house in the county:-

History

The tall tower houses (dating from the late 14th and 15th centuries) were built by aristocrats who needed to be near the royal court in Stirling, partly for defence, (although by then Scotland was actually quite peaceful), but mainly as a way of showing off the status, wealth and style of their owners.

The towers were at the centre of a complex of buildings, which often included a large hall, where the lord could entertain, as well as extra accommodation for his extended household.

Each has its own fascinating story - some have been attacked, most have played host to royalty, one was later at the centre of an amazing formal landscape and another even witnessed the 'knighting' of the poet Robert Burns.

By the later 16th century, however, towers were going out of fashion. People started to build 'modern' houses, like Menstrie Castle and Old Sauchie House, instead. Yet centuries later, the old tower is often the only building which has survived.

These towers show the changing fashions in tower building and are a great survival of the heritage of medieval Clackmannanshire, built by the families - Erskine, Campbell, Bruce, Schaw and Alexander - who shaped the later industrial development of the county.

The new trail replaces the once popular Mill Trail, which combined a tour of the heritage of the county's woollen industry with a retail experience. The decline of the industry in recent years and the closure of the last working mill in Alva signalled the demise of the old trail and the need for a fresh start - the Tower Trail.

Opening Times

Alloa Tower: Daily between 30th March - 31st October, 1.00 - 5.00 pm
Castle Campbell: Summer (1st April - 30th September): Daily, 9.30 - 5.30 pm;
Winter (1st October - 31st March): Saturday - Wednesday, 9.30 am - 4.30 pm (closed Thursdays and Fridays)
Clackmannan Tower: At the moment the tower is only open to visits by special arrangement and occasionally during Scottish Archaeology Month and Doors Open Days in September.
Sauchie Tower: At the moment the tower is only open for special guided tours during Scottish Archaeology Month and Doors Open Days in September.
Menstrie Castle: Easter Sunday and 1st May - 30th September, Wednesdays and Sundays, 2.00 - 5.00 pm

New information panels have been placed at all five sites and there is a Tower Trail booklet, so that all year round visitors can find out about these impressive buildings and what makes them special.

Accessibility

The nature of these buildings generally means that there is limited accessibility for people with mobility difficulties. Visitors enter the buildings at their own risk. Neither Clackmannanshire Council nor any participating building owners are responsible for any accidents or damage incurred.