Lochmaben Castle

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Visiting Castle

Lochmaben Castle ruins stand sentry over the Castle Loch in Lochmaben, the county of Dumfries and Galloway. Built in the 1300s, the castle was a pawn in the history of conflict between the English and the Scottish. The ruins are free for external viewing at any reasonable daylight hour.

Parking

There is a small designated parking area which you may access from the B7020. Follow the road towards heck and Hightae until you see a signpost that marks a farm track toward the castle. You will find a small car park in the immediate vicinity of the castle ruins. 

Price

Lochmaben Castle is free to visit.

Opening

Lochmaben Castle is open for external viewing all year round during reasonable daylight hours.

Plan Day Visit

Location and Access

Lochmaben Castle stands about one and a half miles (2.4 km) south of the town of Lochmaben off the B7020. The ruins lie on a promontory over the Castle Loch.

The physical address of the castle is:

Lockerbie DG11 1JE

United Kingdom.

55.116058N 3.430530W

One may access the site through a single-track farm road signposted from the B7020. The track leads to a small designated and toll-free car park near the castle grounds. Alternatively, there is a car park on the northeast side of the Loch on the A709, where visitors may take in the beauty of the surrounding woodlands while making their way to the castle ruins.

Know Before You Go

  • Only external viewing is permitted as some of the walls are unstable, and Historic Environment Scotland has placed fences to protect the visiting public. 
  • The farm track that leads to the castle car park is a single, narrow lane with several potholes, which you should keep in mind when you drive.
  • There is a picnic area near the castles as well as abundant birdlife nearby for budding birdwatchers.
  • There are toilet facilities in Lochmaben town, including disabled access.
  • Visitors should wear sensible shoes as the area may become muddy in rainy weather.
  • Sites near the castles allow fishing with a permit on a catch and release policy. 
  • The castle loch is not open from swimming due to its shallow extent, black maud, and potentially toxic blue-green algae.

Places To Stay Nearby

Premier Inn Dumfries Hotel

Premier Inn Dumfries offers highly rated and affordable accommodation for singles, couples, and families in their centrally located hotel. Each room has its own en suite shower, WiFi and television, and in-house restaurant and bar facilities. Prices range from £67-£84 for standard double and family rooms.

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Townhead Hotel

Townhead is a 4-star hotel less than 10 minutes from Lockerbie station. The hotel also offers a pick-up service for their 4.5 stars rated establishment. Townhead Hotel offers en suite rooms with flat-screen TVs and WiFi and an in-house 4-star restaurant and bar. The average rate for a twin room is around £74 for a twin to £103 for a standard family room.

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Hetland Hall Hotel

Set in a picturesque lake district in scenery over the Solway firth, you will find Hetland Hotel just outside Dumfries. Hetland offers wedding packages and beautiful country settings, and breathtaking views and offers a penthouse suite for bridal couples. They have a restaurant, cocktail lounge, and bar to unwind after exploring Lochmaben during the day. Hetland provides various rooms, from a classic double at £112 to superior family suites at around £157

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History of Castle

Lochmaben Castle is the second castle at the site; the original motte and bailey fortress was built southeast of the present ruins. Rebuilt by the English in the 1300s, the castle often changed between English and Scottish hands over the centuries and was pivotal in the English Wars of Independence. 

Time Line

 

-1160's (Original Castle Build)

King David I granted Robert Bruce Lochmaben and the lordship of Annandale. To consolidate his new powers, Bruce built the first earth and timber construction southeast of the present Lochmaben Castle ruins. It’s reportedly the birthplace of Robert the Bruce. 

-1298 (English Capture)

Edward I, also known as the "Hammer of the Scots," captured Lochmaben castle and decided to rebuild it in a more secure defensive position on a peninsula jutting north from the banks of Castle Loch. He built the second castle primarily to control the road between Carlise and Glasgow.

-1299 (Attack-Robert the Bruce)

After the First Scottish War of independence, Robert the Bruce attacked the almost completed castle, which was already sturdy enough to repel Bruce's attack. By early 1300, the castle was complete, and much of the old castle became part of the new castle's construction. Remains of the original motte remain on neighbouring Lochmaben Golf Course. 

-1301 (Scottish Attack)

The Scottish attacked the castle with a 5,000 strong force, and the strength of Lochmaben withstood their assault. 

-1306 

The Scotts finally regained the castle in an attack that was short-lived.

-1307

The Scottish lost the castle yet again to a force headed by the Prince of Wales using catapults and ballistas or bolt throwers.   

-1311 

Edward Bruce captures the castle, and the Bruces retain control for 22 years.

-1333 (Castle Surrendered to Crown)

After a brief period of truce, Edward III executes the Earl of Carlisle for treason. After Alexander Bruce died in battle, King Edward III took control of the castle, and the Crown retained control for another 50 years. 

-1384

Archibald Douglas laid a precious nine-day siege to Lochmaben castle and took control, and their family grew in might until they became a threat to the King (James I)

-1452 - 55 (The Crown Takes Back the Castle)

King James murders the then earl and defeats the Douglas clan at the Battle of Arkinholm. The castle fell once again, forfeit to the Crown.

-1503 (Royal Visit)

Historians believe that James the IV enjoyed his honeymoon with Margaret Tudor and added the great hall.

-1542 (Royal Visit)

Historical records suggest that James V spend the night in Lochmaben before his death in battle two weeks later,

-1545

King Henry VIII regained possession of the castle in exchange for his release of Lord Maxwell, but it was back in Scottish hands in a year.

-1565

Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley spent the night in Lochmaben castle after campaigning against the Protestant lords over the border. Lord Maxwell garrisoned the castle in a rebellion against the protestant monarchy.

-1588 (Siege)

James IV laid siege to Lochmaben Castle and then executed David Maxwell and 5 of his allies by hanging.

-1592

Historians suggest that Francis Steward, the 5th Earl of Boswell, infiltrated and captured the castle as part of his role in the uprising against James VI.

-1624 (Neglect)

The castle remained in some semblance of repair, as King James allocated £1,600 Sterling for its restoration at the time that seems to have not manifested. Subsequently, the castle fell into a state of decay, and much of its stone was used for quarrying.

-Today

The Lochmaben ruins are now under the care of Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.

 

Castle Occupants

 

  • Edward Bruce and his progeny inhabited the castle, including Robert the Bruce, who some believe was born in the castle; his family retained possession for 22 years.
  • Edward I of England seizes the original castle and rebuilds it in the present location
  • Archibald Douglas occupied the castle, and the clan retained possession until 1455.
  • James IV occupies the castle frequently and shares a honeymoon there with Margaret Tudor. He also added the great hall.
  • James V occupied the castle for a night.
  • Mary, Queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley spent time in the castle.
  • David Maxwell occupied the castle and refused to surrender the castle to the Crown, and suffered execution.

Images of Castle

Lochmaben Castle Lochmaben Castle
Lochmaben Castle Lochmaben Castle Lochmaben Castle

Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package

Castle Facts

In 1298, forty-eight labourers and twelve skilled craftsmen from Cumberland completed the castle between December 1298 and finished their work by summer the following year. 

Lochmaben Castle is what historians refer to as a peel, sometimes spelt "pele", a fortified keep or tower house built on the English/Scottish borders from the mid-1400s.

In 1592, the Earl of Bothwell got through the strong defences of Lochmaben Castle by dressing as a woman. 

Lochmaben Castle was initially scheduled as a monument in 1936 but had to be rescheduled due to lack of documentation.

Lochmaben castle is host to paranormal sightings, including ghostly warriors on horses and even a vampire!

Castle Q&A

How Big Was Lochmaben Castle?

Centuries of plunder and the ill use of the once formidable Lochmaben Castle has left little to imagine of its once mighty size. However, some sources suggest that the castle and its outer works once covered some 16 acres (6.5 hectares) at the height of the castle's history. The stone castle also had two basal arches over the wet moat to allow boats to arrive at the castle's front entrance. 

What Kind of Castle Is Lochmaben Castle?

Canmore describes Lochmaben castle as a medieval castle, and the primary role of the castle was a defensive one in the tumultuous years of Scottish and English unrest. Edward I built the castle to protect the borders from Scottish uprisings during the Wars of Independence. 

What Remains of Lochmaben Castle?

Lochmaben is the site of two castles; the first shows evidence of a large ringwork from around the 12th century and the ruined 14th-century castle ruins we see today. One may still see the evidence of a wide canal that fronts the remnants of the south curtain wall spanned by two wall wings. The foundations of the great hall and possibly a gatehouse form part of the remains. 

Visitors may freely view the remaining masonry, towers, and moat from the outside of the castle site. As some walls still stand almost to the original height, fences protect visitors from potential harm. The remains of the original castle motte remain on the Lochmaben Golf course.

Location of Castle

Lochmaben Castle is not the original castle built on its site. The powerful Bruce clan placed their original motte and bailey 1.2 km (0.75 miles) to the southeast of the present ruins. They built their earth and timber castle on the strip of land between Castle Loch and Kirk Loch. 

Edward I decided that the site of the present ruins was a better defensive strategy and built the castle on a bluff that protruded into the south end of Castle Loch, offering a good vantage point to monitor the Scottish border. 

Other Places To Visit Near Castle

Dumfries Museum

Dumfries Museum is one of the largest museums in the region and offers fascinating exhibits and collections relating to local history and even prehistoric times; The museum is also home to the oldest functional Camera Obscura.

Caerlaverock Castle

The stronghold of the mighty Maxwell Clan, Caerlaverock Castle offers a rare glimpse into Scottish history. This beautiful medieval castle boasts impressive slotted defences from the 1300s and 1400s, and inside the imposing walls are ornate renaissance stone carvings from the 1600s.

Sweetheart Abbey

Sweetheart Abbey was named after Lady Dervorguilla, who founded the abbey as a tribute to her departed husband, John Balliol. When she died, she was buried in front of the altar, clutching her husband's heart. After some 700 years of service, the abbey is remarkably intact, and its vivid red sandstone walls are in keeping with the theme of celebrating human and divine love.

Sources