OS1/8/5/6
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
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| CASTLE CAMPBELL (In Ruins) continued | [continued from page 5] a feeling of great security. The steps of the spiral staircase, which leads to the top, are a good deal wasted by time and weather; but they still afford a safe ascent, though steep and fatigueing. The roof of the tower, or keep, is a square, or rather oblong, of considerable dimensions, covered with turf, where many a fete champetre has been of late years held, and where dancing parties have amused themselves in the moonlight. From the top of the keep, the view to the south is extremely beautiful, including the hills of Linlithgow and Stirlingshire, and Tinto, in Lanarkshire, in the distance, with the quiet village of Dollar immediately below, and its tiny stream, like a silver thread winding its way to the Devon. The view of the wooded banks on both sides of the castle, is picturesque in the highest degree. There appears to have been large vaults under the south part of the castle for stables, cellars, and other purposes.The Castle now appears perched on the top of a lofty Knoll, or conical hill, embosomed in the surrounding mountains. Several attempts have been made to reach it, by tracing the bed of the stream upwards, but they have all proved unsuccessful. After great fatigue and risk, some have forced their way upwards to the place where the two streams, that surround the castle, make a junction; but beyond this, the overhanging rocks in the bed of the stream, and which nearly meet at the top, form an insuperable barrier. But though the castle is inaccessible by the bottom of the ravine, it may be approached on foot, both on the east and west side of the wooded hollow. The area around the castle is so narrow and confined, that it is impossible to quit its walls, but for a few yards, without the risk of being hurled into the depths below. On the east side the steep acclivity terminates close to the bottom of the walls, and renders it impracticable to get round the ruins on that side. On the south side, there is a beautiful green area of considerable extent, which slopes gradually from the bottom of the ruin to the edge of the precipice in front of the castle. Near the south western extremity of this area, is seen the entrance to Kemp's Score, a frightful chasm in the rock. Immediately adjoining this chasm, we find the remains of an old outwork, now in ruins; passing this outwork, and advancing a few steps towards the brink of the precipice, we find a concealed half formed footpath, which leads to a projection about 12 feet above the bed of the torrent, which is here seen forcing its way beneath shelving rocks, which now and then conceal it from the view of the spectator. This is certainly the most romantic part of the scenery of the Castle, and will amply repay the labour of those who have sufficient nereves, to undertake the descent, as one false step would infalliably precipitate the traveller into the Abyss below. There can be no doubt that the family of Argyle frequently resided here, and made this almost inaccessible castle their favourite residence, till it was burnt by Montrose in 1644. Not content with wreaking their vengeance on the proud castle of their feudal enemy, they burnt at the same time every house in Dollar and Muckhart; the inhabitants of both parishes being vassals of the Duke of Argyle. It is said two houses, the one in Dollar the other in Muckhart, escaped the vengeance of the savage clans, through a mistake on on their part. The one in Dollar they imagined belonged to the Abbey of Dunfermline; and the other being situated on the borders of Fossaway parish, they supposed to belong to that parish, and not to Muckhart. Statistical Account of Clackmannanshire dated 1842. |
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[Page] 6Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Alison James- Moderator, Murray
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