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This week’s Hidden Scotland Weekly takes you to Clackmannanshire, a little-known region with a big history. Graeme Johncock explores its castles, towers, and legends, from Castle Campbell’s dramatic setting to the quiet mystery of Sauchie Tower. We’ve also made our full Edinburgh guide available to read online, with hundreds of curated recommendations and audio stories narrated by Graeme himself.

Elsewhere, you’ll find recent features on Iona’s walking routes, a hidden day out at Crathes Castle, and one of Scotland’s strangest unsolved mysteries, seventeen tiny coffins found on Arthur’s Seat in the 1830s. As always, we’ve rounded up the most interesting news from across Scotland this week, from eco-friendly island hubs to Harry Potter-inspired buses.

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Exploring The Clackmannan Tower Trail

There’s a region in Scotland that most visitors don’t even know exists – Clackmannanshire. Wedged between Stirling, Fife and Perthshire, this tiny area packs a big punch, especially when it comes to castles. I love a good castle and there are five in total to visit here, each with their own unique story!There’s a region in Scotland that most visitors don’t even know exists – Clackmannanshire. Wedged between Stirling, Fife and Perthshire, this tiny area packs a big punch, especially when it comes to castles. I love a good castle and there are five in total to visit here, each with their own unique story!

Hike Through Dollar Glen

While the first castle does have a car park, it’s much better to reach it by a steep but scenic walk. Hike up from the village of Dollar, through the woods past the Burn of Care and the Burn of Sorrow, over wooden walkways and past crashing waterfalls.

Eventually, a viewpoint gives an incredible look at Castle Campbell, perched above the gorge. It takes around an hour to reach the castle and is well worth the effort!

Castle Campbell

Originally known as Castle Gloom, the name was changed in 1489 shortly after the Campbells took it over. The Earl of Argyll needed somewhere closer to the Scotland’s royal centre at Stirling and this fitted the bill. Open through the summer months, it’s well worth spending the time to visit inside.

The tower was expanded into a lavish home, entertaining Kings and Queens until it was abandoned for a more comfortable home in the 1660s. As well as playing host to Mary Queen of Scots, Castle Campbell also saw the Protestant preacher John Knox give a sermon in the grounds!

Sauchie Tower 
15 minute drive 

Unfortunately, Sauchie Tower doesn’t get very much attention. Looming quietly over the road, it’s in poor condition and while you can’t get inside it, there are still stories in these walls. Sauchie was built by the Schaws in the 1420s, with several generations serving as important members of the royal household in Stirling. The most notable resident of Sauchie Tower is Sir James Schaw. He was governor of Stirling Castle and refused to open the gate to King James III as part of a rebellion against the monarch. Instead, conspirators gathered behind the young Prince James who soon took power after the Battle of Sauchieburn!

Menstrie Castle
10 minute drive 

Menstrie Castle is one of the oddest members of the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail, found right in the middle of a housing estate! Built in the middle of the 1500s, this was home to the Alexander family, later Earls of Stirling. William Alexander was born here and as a close friend of James VI, he was given the land of Nova Scotia, naming it after his home country. Unfortunately, he abandoned his Clackmannanshire tower for a comfortable house beside Stirling Castle. Menstrie was passed from family to family, steadily deteriorating until it looked fit for demolishment by the 1900s. Fortunately, a campaign was launched and the castle was restored and converted into homes!

Lunch At Makers Café 
15 minute drive

Makers Café in Alloa doubles as Scottish Autism’s community hub, giving opportunities to individuals with autism or learning difficulties. You can grab a delicious lunch of soup and a toastie, panini or baked tattie, while helping a good local cause. There’s also a shop and gallery on site, along with regular community events!

Alloa Tower 
5 minute drive

Originally built to guard a ferry crossing across the River Forth, Alloa is the largest standing keep in Scotland. It was home to the Erskines who became Earls of Mar and their high position in Scottish nobility meant that the tower saw regular visits from royalty. King James VI even spent Yule and Hogmanay here in 1592! While there’s countless treasures to uncover inside, if you spend the time to wander outside Alloa Tower, you’ll notice indentations for pitched roofs and floor joists. The tower was once part of a larger complex, but it was destroyed by a devastating fire in the 1800s, some say thanks to a curse from the Abbot of Cambuskenneth!

Clackmannan
8 minute drive

Finally, head to the town that gives this small region its name. On the main street, you’ll see the old tolbooth belfry, built by the Sheriff of Clackmannan who didn’t want to hold criminals in his house anymore! Beside that is a strange pillar with a stone on top that’s known as the Clach (stone) of Mannan. We don’t know much about this special rock, but Mannan is thought to refer either to a sea god or the Celtic tribe who once ruled this area.

Clackmannan Tower
5 minute walk

It’s a short walk up towards Clackmannan Tower, atop a small hill known as the King’s Seat. This castle belonged to the Bruce’s with Lady Katherine Bruce, a staunch Jacobite, being one of the last residents She would host wild parties here, even knighting the poet Robert Burns with the sword of her ancestor Robert the Bruce! Sadly, after nearby mining damaged the foundations, part of the castle collapsed in the 1900s. Clackmannan Tower is only accessible on Doors Open Days, but the view from here is outstanding and makes the perfect way to end your day!

For the full itinerary click here.

This story was written by Graeme Johncock, to read more of Graeme’s Articles, stories and itineraries click here. Photographs by Simon Hird.

Available to read online - Issue 10

Our Edinburgh guide is now available to read online with a Hidden Scotland Membership. It’s designed as the ultimate companion to Scotland’s capital, bringing together expert insight, historical stories, and hundreds of carefully chosen recommendations. You’ll find major landmarks, hidden gems, and the best places to eat, shop, stay, and explore.

The guide features walking routes, must-see museums, literary landmarks, and local tips. It also includes more unusual highlights, from murder dolls to stuffed sheep. You’ll discover great cafés, pubs, restaurants, and bookshops, along with suggestions for day trips just outside the city. You can even listen to select stories read aloud by writer Graeme Johncock.

Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, this guide will help you experience Edinburgh in a more meaningful way. Members get full digital access to the guide, plus every issue of Hidden Scotland Magazine, all travel features, and curated itineraries.

Join today to read it all. Start Reading

Interesting news this week in Scotland

New “934” Bus Rolls Out for Glenfinnan Harry Potter Fans
A new “934” weekend bus service, named after Platform 9¾—now runs between Fort William and Glenfinnan until early September. Organised by local councils and the National Trust, it aims to cut congestion near the Glenfinnan Viaduct and offer four eco-friendly daily trips. Discounts are available for passengers at local businesses.

WWII-Era Bunker Museum Opens in Inverness
A Cold War-era radar bunker beneath Inverness has opened as a museum called Behind the Radar. Once used to filter radar signals in WWII and beyond, it now offers tours past blast doors, original 1940s fittings, and wartime technology. Visitors walk through one of Scotland’s rare surviving RAF filter rooms.

Medieval Jousting Returns to Caerlaverock Castle
On 26–27 July, knights on horseback return to Caerlaverock Castle for Historic Environment Scotland’s annual Spectacular Jousting. Expect full armour battles, falconry, medieval food stalls, entertainers, and even “squire school” for kids. Set in Dumfries & Galloway, it’s a vivid summer weekend of living history in a dramatic castle setting.

Eco-Friendly Visitor Hub Opens on Isle of Canna
The Isle of Canna has unveiled a new solar-powered visitor hub beside the pier, offering toilets, showers, NHS space, and laundry facilities. Run by the island’s Community Development Trust, the centre encourages longer stays while easing infrastructure pressure. Visitors are invited to donate, supporting one of Scotland’s smallest island communities.

Glenuig Inn: Pub Saved by the Locals
The Glenuig Inn in the remote Highlands has been saved through community ownership. Locals formed a Community Benefit Society and secured Scottish Land Fund backing to run the pub sustainably. With solar power and biodigester already in place, the inn is now a hub for music, food, and low-impact tourism.

Viking Treasure from Scotland Goes on Show in Australia
A Viking hoard found in Galloway is now on display in Adelaide’s South Australian Museum. Discovered by metal detectorist Derek McLennan, the treasure includes rare Anglo-Saxon and Persian objects that speak to ancient global trade. Remarkably, McLennan used a detector made in Australia, bringing the story full circle.

Shipwreck Identity Revealed on Orkney’s Sanday
Archaeologists have confirmed the identity of a rare 18th-century wreck exposed on Sanday. The Earl of Chatham, formerly the HMS Hind, sank in 1788 after years as a whaler. All 56 crew survived. Community-led research has traced its naval and Arctic past, adding to Sanday’s long shipwreck history.

For more interesting news from across Scotland, visit hiddenscotland.com/news and sign up to the Hidden Scotland Membership to receive news updates from your local area or the regions and topics you're most interested in.

New Articles On the Site

The Best Log Cabin Getaways in Scotland
Looking for a proper log cabin stay? This new collection features 11 handpicked cabins across Scotland, from hillside retreats with loch views to off-grid woodland escapes with hot tubs and timber interiors. Explore the full guide now.

The Fairy Coffins of Edinburgh: An Unsolved Mystery Beneath Arthur’s Seat
In 1836, a group of boys found 17 miniature coffins hidden in the rocks below Arthur’s Seat. This detailed article explores one of Scotland’s strangest unsolved mysteries, from theories of witchcraft to Burke and Hare. Read the full story now.

From Painted Ceilings to Walled Gardens: A Day at Crathes Castle
This new feature covers everything to see at Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire, from its 16th-century tower and original painted ceilings to red squirrel trails and a café with generous hot chocolate. Plan your visit now.

Exploring the Clackmannan Tower Trail
Graeme Johncock takes readers through one of Scotland’s least-known castle trails, with stops at Castle Campbell, Alloa Tower, and the mysterious Sauchie Tower. The route includes historic tales, short hikes, and a great lunch spot. Read the guide now.

A Full-Day Itinerary for Exploring Iona on Foot
This new itinerary offers a slow, thoughtful route across the Isle of Iona, taking in beaches, monastic ruins, a remote marble quarry, and a final stop for wood-fired pizza at the harbour. Start planning your walk now.

For lots more articles, guides, and itineraries like these, we update the site every day for Hidden Scotland Members.

Sleep Your Way from London to the Scottish Highlands

Did you know there’s a train that leaves London in the evening and arrives in the Scottish Highlands by morning? The Caledonian Sleeper departs from Euston Station after the rush-hour crowds have disappeared, travelling north overnight as passengers sleep.

You can choose a seat or a sleeping cabin, and by the time you wake, the view outside has completely changed. Instead of city streets, you’re surrounded by hills, fields, and countryside.

When you step off the train in Scotland, London feels far behind. No flights or long drives, just waking up exactly where you want to be.

Interested? Find out more

This Week in Our Shop

We’re delighted to introduce the newest member of our team, Blythe, who is our weekend Shop & Studio Assistant!

A true explorer of Scotland’s culture and landscapes, Blythe has not only studied Gaelic and Traditional Music, but has also visited every island in the Outer Hebrides. If you need recommendations for hidden gems, you know who to ask. After four years living on the Isle of Skye during university, she’s now back in Stonehaven, bringing her love of Scottish craftsmanship and storytelling to the shop.

As Blythe says: "One of my favourite things about working here is discovering gifts that feel truly special, each one has a story, and they’re all made by small Scottish makers. That’s what makes them so meaningful."

Welcome to the team Blythe! 

Blythe’s Pick of the week: Glenshee Pottery

“They come in so many variations but my favourite is the blue tin roof with red windows” 

Issue 10 Sponsors

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