Craigie Castle - Caisteil Chreagaidh

Craigie Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteil Chreagaidh)  is located about 1 mile southeast of the village of Craigie and 4 miles southeast of Kilmarnock  (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Mheàrnaigand). The ruined castle is in the council area of  South Ayrshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Deas, Alba). The very ruined remains of Craigie Castle stand on a grassy knoll which appears to have been surrounded by a ditch. The present ruins are thought to date mainly from the 15th century. However, some 12th or 13th century stonework are included in the structure, which point to it having started as a hall house and possibly an even earlier building. 

The remains of this medieval castle is surrounded by substantial earthworks. The castle stands on a low ridge massive ditches to the SSW and NNE, while a third ditch to the NE forms an outer bailey. The earliest surviving part of the structure being identified as the remains of the late 12th or early 13th century hall house, incorporate traces of an earlier structure. There was an additional building phase in the 15th century which enlarged and made changes to the castle. It was originally built for the Lyndesay or Lindsay clan. In about 1371 it passed to John Wallace of Riccarton through marriage. This line of the Ayrshire Wallaces then lived at Craigie Castle until they moved to Newton Castle in Ayr in 1588. After which Craigie Castle was left to fall into ruin.

Image: Craigie Castle image © Copyright Rosser1954 Roger Griffith released for use in the public domain.

Link: Historic Environment Scotland  - Scottish Gaelic: Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba Craigie Castle.