Places to visit

Carsluith Castle

Carsluith Castle

Carsluith Castle is just southwest of the town of Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Taigh an Rathaid, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, Alba). These are the remains of a sixteenth century castle. There is evidence of other buildings on the site in addition to the L-shaped tower house and courtyard.

Sorbie Tower

Sorbie Tower from the North East (Photographer David Kelly) image courtesy of Wikipedia

Sorbie Tower is a 16th-century fortified tower house east of the village of Sorbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Soirbidh, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, Alba). It is thought that Sorbie Tower was built for Alexander Hannay of Sorbie. It was occupied by a descendent of the Earl of Galloway until 1748 after which the castle became ruinous. 

Cruggleton Castle

Cruggleton Castle image courtesy of The Douglas Archives

Cruggleton Castle ruins are located at Cruggleton Point, in the Machers Penisula in southwest Scotland. It stands on the 130 feet high cliff edge of a promontory around 3 miles east of Whithorn (Scottish Gaelic: Taigh Mhàrtainn) and just under four miles south-east of the village of Sorbie, Wigtownshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Soirbidh, Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Ùige, Alba). The earliest stone tower and curtain wall was built between the late 13th and early 15th centuries. This was on the site of a previous motte and a timber tower. Excavations have revealed that the site on which it stands has been used for many centuries and the remains of a late Iron Age hut circle was discovered.

St Ninian's Chapel, Isle of Whithorn

St Ninian's Chapel on Isle of Whithorn

St Ninian's Chapel is in the village of Isle of Whithorn (Scottish Gaelic: Port Rosnait) in the southwest of Scotland. The harbour village is about 3 miles from the town of Whithorn (Scottish Gaelic: Taigh Mhàrtainn) in the historic county of Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Ùige, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh). The chapel is thought to have been built in around 1300 AD to replace an earlier chapel erected in the 1100s. The chapel was repaired and partly rebuilt in 1898 by the Marquess of Bute, however its main features were preserved. 

Drumtroddan Cup and Ring Stones

Drumtroddan Cup & Ring Stones

Drumtroddan Cup and Ring Stones are part of tradition of pre-historic rock carvings that can be found in the Celtic lands of north-west Europe. Their purpose and function are a mystery and they can range in dates from 3,500 BC to 10,000 BC. There are two rocky outcrops within a short distance of each other and a third nearby on this site. The markings are predominantly spirals, cups and rings. They were clearly seen as important symbols as they must have taken a considerable amount of time and skill to carve.

Drumtroddan Standing Stones

Drumtroddan Standing Stones were raised some 4000 years ago. At one time three were standing. Obviously the effort made by those that hoisted these large stone into place signifies there important ceremonial purpose. Astronomical and mathematical factors are seen as the motivation for the erecting of such structures. Small groups of stones such as these are often indicators of other larger circles or cairns nearby. Clearly this area was part of an important pre-historic landscape. About 438 yards (400m) to the north-west are the Drumtroddan rock carvings.

Glenluce Abbey

Glenluce Abbey 1789 from work by Francis Grose

Also known as the Abbey of Luce was a Cistercian monastery founded in the late twelfth century which became disused after the Scottish Reformation in the sixteenth century. An exhibition of objects excavated at the site can be seen by visitors.

Castle Kennedy

Castle Kennedy

Castle Kennedy is a ruined 17th-century tower house. It is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Sròn Reamhar, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, Alba). It is around 1/2 mile (0.80 km) north of the village Castle Kennedy. There are records of a previous fortification on the site of Castle Kennedy at least in the fifteenth century and it is possible there was one before that.

Castle of St John, Stranraer

Castle of St John 11/2

Castle of St John is in the centre of the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Sròn Reamhar, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, Alba). This is an L-shaped tower house dating from the early sixteenth century and built by the powerful local family the Adairs of Kilhilt. Over the years it had been used as family home, court, military garrison and prison and now after refurbishment in the 1980's it is a museum. There are videos and reconstructions of the building which is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday between 28th May until 24 September.

Turnberry Castle

Ailsa Craig with Turnberry Castle. Image taken from 'Select Views of the Clyde' by J. M. Leighton (1830). Engraved by Joseph. Swan.

Turnberry Castle ruins are on a low peninsular close to the A77 road north from Girvan, adjacent to Turnberry Golf Course. It is near the town of Maybole in Ayrshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic:Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, Alba). The origins of the castle are now no longer known. At one time it was a fortress of the Lords of Galloway, but passed into the possession of the Earls of Carrick in the 13th century. It is a fragmentary ruin and there is little left of the old castle today, although its lower vaults and cellars are intact. Its position by the sea, which at one time offered protection, has now left it vulnerable to coastal erosion. In 1873 a lighthouse was built on part of the castle's site where it remains today. Turnberry Castle has an association with King Robert I of Scotland (Robert the Bruce) who was known to have spent time there when young and may even have been born there. 

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