Crawford Castle

Crawford Castle is a stone ruin standing on a mound near the River Clyde, surrounded by remains of rectangular stone structures. The site shows evidence of multiple building phases, with additional ranges added to the southern and eastern sides of the main walls.

William Lindsay built the stone fortress after marrying into the local ruling family, replacing an earlier timber structure that had stood on the mound. The castle then became a family stronghold that remained important to the area through the medieval period and beyond.

The castle was closely tied to the Lindsay family, who lived here and shaped the area's importance over many generations. Its role as a family seat meant the building reflected the power and status of one of the region's leading houses.

The ruins are accessible from Camps Road with roadside parking available nearby. The location sits in open countryside, so visitors should dress for changing weather and allow time to walk around the site safely on uneven ground.

Archaeological finds show that a Roman military fort once occupied this strategically important location between the 1st and 2nd centuries, housing several hundred soldiers. This early settlement suggests the Romans recognized the site's military value long before the medieval castle was built.