Loch Doon Castle

Loch Doon Castle was built by the Earls of Carrick at some point during the late 1200s.

It is said that the castle may have been built by Robert the Bruce, however it’s more likely that his father (also called Robert) was the one who actually had the castle constructed.

The castle has not always been so easily accessible, having once stood on Castle Island out in the middle of Loch Doon.  The island was located about 400m south of where the castle now stands.

In 1935, Loch Doon Castle was carefully dismantled, stone by stone and removed from its original island location, and was then reconstructed on the landside bank of the loch.  This was done to preserve the ruin from the rising water levels in the loch caused by a hydroelectric dam scheme.  If the water levels are right, you can still make outvthe island!

Loch Doon’s unique 11-sided polygonal plan was derived from its original island location.

The curtain wall once had two entrances.  One, an impressive pointed arch, with a door and portcullis, which is said to lie out on the bottom of the loch.  The other entrance was a postern, or back gate and less grand in appearance.

Inside the curtain walls are the remains of the original internal buildings.  The foundations of a tower house bulit by Kennedys in the 1500s, were also recovered from the island.