Bothwell Castle
28 minute walk from Uddingston station · Glasgow and West Central
Bothwell Castle is a grand medieval stronghold located in South Lanarkshire. Sited on a steep bank above a bend in the River Clyde, this large fortress was begun in the 13th century by the ancestors of Clan Murray to guard a strategic crossing point. It is celebrated as one of the foremost secular structures of the Middle Ages in Scotland.
The castle is famous for its massive 13th-century cylindrical donjon and its central role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. It changed hands many times, serving as a headquarters for both English leaders and Scottish nobles like Archibald "the Grim" Douglas. Visitors today can see the ruins of the great donjon to the west and the 15th-century Great Hall and chapel to the east.
When exploring the grounds, you can view the long curtain walls that enclose the central courtyard and the round towers at the corners. The site offers a chance to appreciate the architectural scale of a site that once featured walls 15 feet thick. It is a powerful monument to Scotland's military history and medieval design.
Visitor information
- Place type
- Castle
- Good for
- Architecture, Castles, Lochs, rivers & waterfalls, Military history
- Characteristics
- Medieval, Nationally significant, Riverside, Ruin
- Admission
- Paid admission
- Region
- Glasgow and West Central
Stations within walking distance
- Uddingston station — 28 min walk, 2.2 km
- Blantyre station — 29 min walk, 2.3 km