Gartartan Castle,  stands about half a mile back on the right bank of the River Forth and a similar distance below the bridge over the river, near Gartmore railway station within the grounds of Gartmore House. Covered with ivy, this forgotten ruin built by the MacFarlane's is a near exact model of their castle Inveruglas. It is in a very much better state of preservation than Inveruglas Castle located on the small island on Loch Lomand, albeit in a far less picturesque location.  

~ History ~

1531 ~ Walter MacFarlane of Ardleish obtains lands belonging to John Lyle from King James V of Scotland.

He begins the building of Gartartan Castle.

1546 ~ Walter commands light infantry in an expedition around the Firth of Clyde on behalf of the English King Henry VIII.

They take the islands of Bute and Arran, defeat the Earl of Argyll, and burn down the castles of Rothesay and Dunoon. However when they attempt to take Dumbarton Castle they are defeated. As a result, Walter forfeits his estate for his part in that raid

" to Archibald Earl of Argyle, of all goods which pertained to Walter MacFarlane of Ardlesc, Andro McFarlane his son and heir & a John Bain McAllane in Carronclaid, Dougall MGregour son there, Duncan M Cowlekerr, McGregor, Robert Roy M'Gregour, his man George Mcjok alias MGregour in Cragcrostan and many others at the horn for being art and part in the tressonable cuming to the townend of Dumbertane in the month of July bypast and crewall slauchter of fifty personis, servantis to my lord Governour and Lordis, being with him in company and for the reiffing steling and thiftuous awaytaking of four scoir 80 of hors at the samyn tyme apertening to my Lord Governour and Lordis foresaidis. and for sorning, reiff and oppressioun done be thame upoun the inhabitants of the Levenax and utheris pairtis thairabout and for thair tressonable being in company with the auld inymies of Ingland, in burning of divers pairties of Hir Graces realme and specialie of the town of Dunune, or be quhatsumevir manner of way sail happin or may pertene to his Hienes ".

Walter is later restored to all of his properties within a few months.

1547 ~ Walter is killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh fighting the English for the Scottish Crown. The battle is later recorded as the last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the Union of the Crowns. It was part of the conflict known as the Rough Wooing and considered to have been the first modern battle in the British Isles. It was to be a catastrophic defeat for Scotland, with over 10,000 dead Scottish nobles, lairds and common men, later referred to as "Black Sunday".

His son Andrew, aged just 3 becomes chief of clan MacFarlane. He later completes the building of Gartartan Castle.

1590 ~ Following years of violence and vendettas, feuds and thievery between the MacFarlanes and the Colquhouns, who live on the shore of Loch Lomand, turns murderous with the death of Humphrey MacFarlane at the hands of Sir Humphrey Colquhoun. This leads to a series of violent cattle-rustling raids. 

To complicate matters, a love affair begins between the wife of John MacFarlane (heir to the chieftanship) and Sir Humphrey Colquhoun. John MacFarlane, with help from the MacGregor's, follow the couple and chase Sir Humphrey to his stronghold, set it on fire, kill him and then mutilate his body. His body parts later being served on a platter to his unfaithful wife, followed by their divorce. 

The raids continue, this time the MacFarlane's are helping the MacGregor's against the Culquhoun's.

The Culquhoun's being more knowledgeable of courts and public relations, successfully put their complaints against the MacGregor's and MacFarlane's. The MacGregor's are proscribed and the MacFarlane's later outlawed.

1610 ~ King James VI, who is now also James I of England, decides to solve the problem of Ireland by subdividing the Province of Ulster into lots and sending colonists from Scotland and England to live on and work the land. The Plantation of Ulster formally begins with Scots encouraged to move to Ireland. This begins the MacFarlane presence in Ireland in County Tyrone, “the first settlement of the MacFarlanes of Ulster, from whom so many American members of the clan are descended.”

1612 ~ The son of Andrew, John, becomes the 15th Chief. The feuds and fighting continue and many of the clan are convicted of theft and robbery and removed to other territories in Scotland.

1679 ~The MacFarlane's fight for the Duke of Monmouth, King Charles II’s illegitimate son, in his bid for the throne at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. It is, however, unsuccessful.

1689 ~ John MacFarlane sides with the takeover of the English throne by William & Mary, Protestants, instead of the deposed Catholic James II. John is appointed Colonel of a regiment of footsoldiers and is the last of the chiefs engaged in war.This places the MacFarlane's on the opposing side to the Jacobite MacGregor's.

1700's ~ During the Jacobite uprisings, the MacFarlane's obstain from leading any men into battle. 

Following the building of Gartmore house, Gartartan Castle is allowed to fall into disrepair.