I started my Scottish road trip from Gretna Green along the Solway shoreline to explore Dumfries & Galloway. It was my first time this south in Scotland and it reminded me so much of Ireland. So much green, lush hills and so many sheep. And no wonder Ireland is just a stone throw away.
My second stop was near Dumfries (the first was at the closed Devils Porridge Museum) at Caerlaverock Castle. It lays a little bit out of the way but is so worth the detour!
It´s built triangular and was the stronghold of the Maxwell Family from the 13th to the 17th century. It was under siege from the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence and rebuilt several times.
The site was already used by the Romans, the first mention of the land dates from around 1160. Around 1220 it was given to Sir John Maxwell and the works on the first castle began. It laid a little bit further back than today’s castle and the foundation is still visible – and it was square and may have never been completed?!
The “new” castle was completed in 1270 and a moat around the castle had been dug, also probably as a source of building stone, only the gatehouse stands on a rock, the rest of the castle is on a clay platform.
Due to it´s proximity to the English border the castle looks back on a turbulent history. Many sieges, being under English command numerous times, won back etc… it has so many stories to tell!
