Morton Castle

Morton Castle ruins sit on a high spit of land in a beautiful location surrounded by dramatic, steep drops on three sides, down to an artificial loch below.

The date of construction for Morton Castle has been a topic of discussion among various experts for some time.  There is a suggestion from one side that the castle was built as early as 1260.  Other experts, however, argue the present castle ruins have to be a replacement construction that was built sometime during the 1400s; this side of the debate evidences their argument with an order for the castle’s destruction in 1372.  The remaining architectural evidence, however, is argued to indicate a build date of around 1300.

Morton Castle is one of only a limited number of surviving hall-houses.  A hall-house is a type of tower house-style fortified building which must have a first-floor hall built above an undercroft. 

It is most likely that when originally built the hall-house would have been enclosed by a curtain wall, likely with a circular tower.  It is clear, walking around the ruin, where this curtain wall may have collapsed into the loch below over time, as the steep hill weathers away.

As with its construction date, it is currently not known who had Morton Castle built, but the D-shaped towers of its once impressive gatehouse appear to have been constructed to a design similar to those of the Black Gate at Newcastle Castle, suggesting Morton Castle may have been the work of an English mason.

Despite its dramatic location, Morton Castle was not a defensive design.  The limited defences at Morton Castle suggest it was constructed more for leisure purposes than as a secure stronghold.  It is likely that this hall-house was used as a hunting lodge, the grounds surrounding it stocked with hare and deer, the loch below with fish.

Morton Castle's location is associated with the Lord of Nithsdale, who many believe held a stronghold at Morton.  However, the ruin currently named Morton Castle is not this stronghold. 

The Barony of Morton was held by Sir Thomas Randolph in the late 1200s, around which time the castle may have been constructed.  

The Douglases of Drumlanrig came to occupy the castle at some point in the 1500s, but not as their main residence.   

In 1588, King James VI had the castle burnt during a campaign against Lord Maxwell, the Catholic Earl of Morton. 

Morton Castle remained a property of the Douglases for some time after this, but by 1714, it had fallen into disrepair, eventually leaving the beautifully situated ruin we see today sitting on a hill high above the still loch below.