Scottish Castles Photo Library
- Culcreuch Castle, Stirlingshire
Half a mile north of the village of Fintry and the Campsie Hills, Culcreuch Castle today is made up of a 15th century keep (tower) rising to three storeys with 18th century extensions. The keep probably incorporates an earlier building. The castle with its 1600 acre estate was originally owned by the Galbraiths of Culcreuch - the earliest records show that they were there in 1320. After 300 years, Robert Galbraith was outlawed and the property was sold to his brother-in-law, Seton of Gargunnock in 1624 who sold it a few years later to Robert Napier, 2nd son of John Napier of Merchiston (the inventor of logarithms). In 1796 the property was acquired by a Glasgow merchant, Alexander Spiers, who built a large cotton mill and a distillery in nearby Fintry.
The castle is now a hotel - and has the distinction of housing the largest colony of bats in the UK, in the roof space above the dining room. I can also vouch for the excellence of the bar in the keep which offers snacks.
If guests in the hotel are not engaged in looking out for bats, they can watch for a number of ghosts reputed to haunt the castle, including a Phantom Harper.
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or go to the next castle: 
Culzean Castle.
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
