Craigend Castle

Craigend Castle is a ruined mansion set within Mugdock Country Park featuring a seven-section façade with a square tower on the south side and an octagonal tower on the east side. The structure displays stone archways and detailed window work across both elevations.

The house was built in 1812 for Alexander Ramsay following designs by James Smith of Jordanhill on lands within the Mugdock barony. Its construction reflected the period when wealthy Scots invested in countryside estates as markers of their prosperity and social standing.

The building reflects early 19th-century design tastes through its Gothic-inspired towers and carefully detailed stonework, which are visible as you walk around the structure. These architectural choices show how wealthy families expressed their status through their homes.

The site sits within the 700-acre Mugdock Country Park and is reached via Craigallian Road, with walking being the best way to view the structure from different angles. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and the ruin itself requires caution when exploring closely.

The main entrance is marked by a covered porch flanked by small octagonal towers, creating a striking focal point that was designed to impress visitors arriving at the estate. This feature reveals how much thought went into the arrival experience, making the entrance itself a statement of wealth and taste.