Lochwood Castle, The Mount, Motte and Tower House Complex, Medieval tower house in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Lochwood Castle, The Mount, Motte and Tower House Complex is a group of medieval fortifications in Johnstone, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The stone tower has a vaulted basement, a main hall on the first floor, and upper private rooms connected by a wide spiral staircase set in a projecting wing.
The Johnstone family established the site in the 12th century and held it for over 600 years through the turbulent conflicts of the Scottish Borders. The complex was finally abandoned in 1724 and has been a ruin ever since.
The name Lochwood ties the nearby loch to the wooded land that once surrounded the site. For generations, this stronghold was the heart of Johnstone family power, and their mark on the surrounding region can still be felt in local place names and history.
The site sits in a remote area south of Beattock and is reached by road along the route between Lochmaben and Beattock. There are no facilities on site, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before heading out.
North of the stone tower stands The Mount, a circular mound with two terraces that dates from the Norman period and marks an even earlier fortification on the same spot. This earthwork shows that the site was used for defense long before the tower was ever built.
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