Bothwell Castle

Back to attractions

Visit one of Scotland’s greatest castles.

 

Bothwell's Outstanding Monument, Bothwell Castle
 

Bothwell Castle is one of the outstanding monuments of medieval Scotland.

Bothwell Castle owes its origins to Walter of Moray, a northern aristocratic family who acquired Bothwell in 1242. He (or his son William, known as ‘the Rich’) created the mighty castle in a spectacular display of feudal pride.

Their dream was never completed, probably because of the outbreak of the Wars of Independence in 1296. No matter, for what they did achieve – and what still holds us enthralled today – is the Bothwell Castle's great donjon, or tower.

Dr W. Douglas Simpson, erstwhile librarian of King’s College at the University of Aberdeen, has justifiably described Bothwell Castle as ‘the grandest piece of secular architecture that the Middle Ages has bequeathed to us in Scotland’.

Not surprisingly, the Morays’ great castle figured prominently in the Wars of Independence with England. Siege followed on siege. The most momentous was Edward I’s great siege of 1301.

 

Bothwell Castle and the Black Douglases

After the wars, Bothwell Castle passed to another powerful noble family, the Black Douglases.

They rebuilt Bothwell Castle in a form not envisaged by their predecessors. This too is impressive, with an array of fine-quality later-medieval secular architecture. After the Black Douglases were overthrown in 1455, Bothwell Castle reverted to the Crown, and the castle's later history was relatively uneventful.
 

Accessibility at Bothwell Castle

The castle courtyard, grounds and castle shop are fully accessible for wheelchairs.

 

Bothwell Village Leaflet

For more information on the history and heritage of Bothwell don't forget to download the informative Bothwell Village leaflet pdf located in the maps and guides section lower down this page.