Elphinstone Tower (Airth Tower or Dunmore Tower)

Getting There

This castle is located on the A905 just north of the village of Airth. The closest parking to the castle is at the near by Dunmore Pineapple with free parking. From the car park it is a walk along a muddy path to the tower and site of the old St. Andrew’s church of which only piles of rubble remain.

Entry costs and services

This castle is an unmaintained ruin so it is free to visit however take extreme caution if you do so. This is not easily accessible as the the old church yard is completely overgrown with trees and brambles. So wear appropriate footwear. There are no toilets near by incase you decide to go for a walk around the Pineapple.

Review

The tower dates to the 16th century it was built by Sir John Elphinstone as the seat of the barony of Elphinstone. The Elphinstone estate was purchased by John Murray son of the 3rd Earl of Dunmore in 1754. Two years later he inherited the earldom and changed its name to the estate of Dunmore. He later built the Dunmore Pineapple in 1761.

John Murray become the governor of the Province of New York in 1770. The following year he became the governor of the Colony of Virginia. He fled from Virginia to New York after the Burning of Norfolk in 1776 and later returned to Britain. Before his death in 1809 he was also the governor of the Bahama Islands from 1787 to 1796.

In the 1820s the 5th earl commissioned the construction of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church which was completed around 1850. At around the same time the bottom floor of the tower was turned into a mausoleum for the family.

The Murray family left Dunmore in 1911. The tower and surrounding estate buildings fell into decay. In 1962 demolition was approved for the church.

Overall this was a wee adventure around Dunmore estate. I really enjoyed clambering around this site, it felt very untouched and remote despite still being able to see the main road near by. It also was a good excuse to visit the Pineapple which has got to be one of the most eccentric buildings in Scotland that I’ve seen.