Rusky Castle

Gatehouse Classification - Not available

Has been described as a Questionable Gentry tower-house

There are no visible remains

NameRusky Castle
Alternative Names
Medieval County
Historic CountryPerthshire
Modern AuthorityStirling
1974 AuthorityCentral
Civil ParishPort of Menteith

(NN 6144 0338) Castle (NR) (Site of).
OS 6 map, (1958)
Rusky Tower, traditionally the principal residence of Sir John Menteith (c.1260 - c.1325), stood on a small island in Loch Rusky. The building has long been levelled to the ground, the stones being used in building the farm at Muirhouse and houses at Blairhoyle. On the mainland land near the island are the remains of stables, and an area of 30 yards circumference, surrounded by old fir trees, was traditionally used for the training of horses (Fraser 1880).
Rusky Castle can never have been anything but a small peel-tower, and a portion of the residential buildings and offices may have been on the shore, while the stronghold occupied the island (Hutchison 1899).
About two years ago the level of Rusky Loch was raised about 2 to 3 feet and all that can now be seen of the island on which the castle stood are a few stunted trees.
Although no trace of the stables could be found, they probably stood near NN 6135 0343 where there is a clear area surrounded by old fir trees.
Visited by OS (R D) 15 October 1968; Information from Magor C Graham, Estate Manager, Rednock House.
NN 614 033 This castle may have been in existence in the late 13th or early 14th century. It occupied a small island in Loch Rusky. No remains of the castle were visible in the late 19th century, and the island itself has since been submerged by the raising of the water-level in the loch.
RCAHMS 1979, visited December 1977 (Canmore)

Gatehouse Comments

Catalogues in Canmore as 'bastle' but far to early (and of too high social status) to fit this category. A 'peel tower' of somewhat unusually form in being physically separated from it hall and ancillary buildings

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNN61440338
Latitude56.20282
Longitude-4.23502
Eastings261440
Northings703380
Length
Width
Dimensions Comment
Vault
Vault Comment
Orientation
Orientation Comment
Wall Thickness 1
Wall Thickness 2
Map
Holder
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Books

  • Coventry, M., 2008, Castles of the Clans: the strongholds and seats of 750 Scottish families and clans(Musselburgh) p. 252, 421, 454
  • RCAHMS, 1979, The archaeological sites and monuments of Stirling District, Central Region (Edinburgh: The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 7) p. 40 No. 372
  • Hutchison, A.F., 1899, The Lake of Menteith: its islands and vicinity with historical accounts of the Priory of Inchmahome and the Earldom of Menteith(Stirling) p. 18-19 online copy
  • Fraser, W., 1880, The red book of Menteith(Edinburgh) Vol. 1 p. 506 online copy