Clan Rising
Cruggleton Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Cruggleton Castle

Cruggleton Castle is a multi-period medieval fortress sited on a high shale promontory on the Machars coast in southwest Scotland. The site includes the earthwork motte, the remains and foundations of later stone buildings including a high tower and curtain wall, and a broad protective ditch across the promontory. The visible ruins today are scheduled and limited to fragments of the former stone structures.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1563

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1563

What Cruggleton Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a rocky shale promontory 40 metres above the sea, the castle presents a compact plan with a raised motte (about 31 by 29 metres) and a surrounding curtain wall topped with sloped merlons. A tall rectangular stone tower rises within the curtain, reached via a defended gate with a drawbridge and portcullis; several subsidiary stone buildings lie within the bailey as low foundations. A broad ditch cuts the promontory to the west; local grey-brown masonry and exposed barrel-vaulting are visible.

Its story

The story of Cruggleton Castle.

Cruggleton Castle occupies a high shale promontory on the Machars coast of Wigtownshire, some 40 metres above the sea. Excavations in the 1970s and 1980s revealed use from the 1st century AD to the 17th century, with the first stone tower raised in the 13th century on an earlier motte. Possibly a seat of the Lords of Galloway, it passed to the Earls of Buchan, in the 1290s John Comyn had a licence from Edward I to dig lead in the Calf of Man to cover eight of its towers.

Blind Harry associated Cruggleton, "The Black Rock of Cree", with a stronghold William Wallace captured with his companions Stephen of Ireland and Kerlé, a story best kept as legend. Later in the 14th century David II granted the castle to Gilbert Kennedy, and in 1424 it went to the Prior and Canons of Whithorn; a coloured drawing made of it, now in the British Museum, shows a high tower within a curtain wall of sloped merlons, defended by drawbridge and portcullis.

A dispute over the castle between Lord Robert Stewart, Commendator of Whithorn Priory, and John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, ended with Stewart, an illegitimate son of James V, besieged there by Fleming in 1569, while his brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray, wrote to Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch urging him to relieve the siege. Vaus later held Cruggleton himself, dying in 1598; today only scheduled fragments of the stone buildings survive.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1563.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Cruggleton Castle, including 1 interior: interior of the main tower, barrel-vaulted chamber. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Coastal approach along the clifftop pathBroad western ditch across the promontoryTop of the motte beneath the main towerGatehouse with drawbridge and portcullisExterior face of the curtain wallInterior of the main tower, barrel-vaulted chamberInner bailey and subsidiary building foundationsView from sea level looking up to the promontory

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Whose castle

Clans who held Cruggleton Castle.

The families that held Cruggleton Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Comyn

    Held by the Comyn Earls of Buchan; John Comyn had licence in the 1290s to dig lead to cover the castle's eight towers.

  • Kennedy

    Granted to Gilbert Kennedy by King David II in the 14th century.

  • Vaus

    Later held by Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch, who died in 1598.

Questions about Cruggleton Castle

What is the history of Cruggleton Castle?

Cruggleton Castle began as a motte and timber tower in the 12th or 13th century, with its first stone tower raised in the 13th century. It was possibly a seat of the Lords of Galloway before passing to the Earls of Buchan. In 1569, Lord Robert Stewart was besieged there by John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, and the castle was later held by Sir Patrick Vaus, who died in 1598.

What is inside Cruggleton Castle / what can you see in it?

Inside Cruggleton Castle, the surviving interior feature is a barrel-vaulted chamber in the main tower. The ruins include a narrow section of barrel vaulting, known locally as ‘The Arch’, while the foundations of several further buildings remain visible across the site.

Where is Cruggleton Castle?

Cruggleton Castle is on Cruggleton Point on the Machars coast, about 4.5 kilometres east of Whithorn. It stands on a high shale promontory in the historical county of Wigtownshire, within Dumfries and Galloway. The site is about 40 metres above sea level.

When was Cruggleton Castle built?

Cruggleton Castle was built in phases rather than at one recorded date. A motte and timber tower appeared in the 12th or 13th century, and the first stone tower was built in the 13th century on the earlier motte. The stone tower and curtain wall were built between the late 13th and early 15th centuries.

Was Cruggleton Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Cruggleton Castle was attacked by Scottish forces in 1307 and was subsequently demolished. It was also besieged in 1569, when John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, besieged Lord Robert Stewart in the castle. The outcome of the 1569 siege is not stated in the surviving account.

Which family or clan held Cruggleton Castle?

Cruggleton Castle was held by the Comyn Earls of Buchan, and John Comyn had a licence in the 1290s to dig lead for its eight towers. King David II granted it to Gilbert Kennedy in the 14th century. It was later held by Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch, who died in 1598.

What did Cruggleton Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Cruggleton Castle had a compact plan on a rocky shale promontory about 40 metres above the sea. A raised motte, about 31 by 29 metres, was enclosed by a curtain wall with sloped merlons, while a tall rectangular stone tower stood within the bailey. A defended gate had a drawbridge and portcullis, with subsidiary buildings inside.

Is Cruggleton Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Cruggleton Castle is a ruin, with only scheduled fragments of the former stone buildings surviving. The visible remains include a narrow section of barrel vaulting in the tower, the foundations of several buildings, the motte and a broad ditch across the promontory. By 1684, the castle was described as ‘wholly demolished and ruinous’.

Can you visit Cruggleton Castle?

Cruggleton Castle can be visited as an accessible coastal ruin. It is reached along a coastal path from the grounds of nearby Galloway House. The outward remains include the tower vaulting, motte, ditch and building foundations, although the site survives only as scheduled fragments.

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