Clan Rising
Cadzow Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Cadzow Castle

Cadzow Castle is a 16th-century stone castle built around 1530 by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, now a ruin perched above the Avon Water in Chatelherault Country Park near Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. The structure was partly destroyed in the late 16th century and later used as a folly; the ruin is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is managed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1530

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1530

The shape it held in its prime.

A long, continuous ashlar stone range of warm-brown sandstone sits on the rim of a steep, wooded gorge above the Avon Water; the surviving elevation shows a linear band of regularly spaced narrow vertical openings and higher window apertures, rising directly from thick masonry at the cliff edge, backed by tall parkland trees. In its prime the range would have been complete with continuous roofs and upper floors, presenting a solid, horizontal roofline above the gorge.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 1530.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Cadzow Castle — including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.

View from Duke's BridgeFootpath at base of the gorgeCliff-top approach through the parklandMain gorge-facing wall (close-up)View from the duke's pleasure grounds

Create History

See Cadzow Castle with the fires lit.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1530 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate Castle to Explore →
All castles of Scotland · Castles of Europe · walk the finished reconstructions.