So, after absorbing all that story in Newark Castle He went to Bothwell Castle . After exploring Bothwell, we sat off the castle to Enjoy the big and open field in front of the castle. However, as soon as we took a seat, two puppies joined directly for us. My partner, who is totally a dog Person (quite the opposite of me, haha), he was instantly charming. On the other hand, I was perfectly still while these small spongy energy packages jumped around us, clearly looking at our cookies.

The best part of this whole meeting? One of the puppies belonged to this lovely old man, 83, who slowly approached when he saw that his dog had made a new friend. The owner of the other puppy was a little and sweet Scottish lassie who ran, probably a little ashamed that his dog has moved away. We pass with her, we present ourselves and, honestly, she was such an educated and respectful girl: her parents are definitely doing incredible job.

The older knight joined us, sitting while we were still standing and feeding his dog some cookies. He told us that his dog loves to eat and eat a lot, and we only talk a little. It turns out that this is his third dog, and the three have been exactly the same race and color, and has named them all the same name. He mentioned something that really had: “Just maybe this current dog could survive it.” Wow, right? He is from a family of blacksmiths and has an engineering experience, only an anciently charming old man, although it seemed a bit alone. He mentioned having grandchildren, or a grandson, if I remember correctly. After a moving talk, we said goodbye and left.

Well, that healthy dog encounter happened after We finished exploring Bothwell Castle . We roll up and, thanks to our historical confidence in Scotland, we enter for free, I love it. From the outside, the castle seems huge, which leads us to believe that we would spend a significant amount of time exploring each corner. It turns out that we did not spend as long as we expected.

Some parts of the Bothwell Castle are not in the best conditions, but when you think about it, the castle itself has a whopping 800 years. That is old. So, it is more about taking the scale and history of the ruins from the complex. Actually, it cannot enter many of the rooms because the pieces have fallen and for security, which is totally understandable given their age. We even met another lovely elderly man at the entrance who went to walk with his neighbor, and he gave us a small lesson of improvised history about the castle. It is those little moments with the locals who really enrich a trip, don't you think?

It is a great medieval strength, dramatically perchanted on a high shore and steep just above a curve in the River Clyde in South Lanarkshire . He feels perfectly among the cities of Bothwell and Uddingston, just 10 miles southeast of Glasgow.

All about Bothwell Castle

Seriously, if you plan to travel to Scotland and search for places to visit, Bothwell Castle needs to be on your list because it is also a lovely picnic location during the summer. This was not an old castle; It was built in the thirteenth century by the ancestors of Murray clan To protect a super strategic crossing point of Clyde. Talk about important.

This castle played a key role in the intense wars of independence of Scotland. Can you believe it changed your hands? several times During those turbulent years? Imagine drama.

The mass cylindrical donjon (that is the great round tower) was built first in the thirteenth century. But before the rest of the castle could end, it was severely damaged in a series of brutal sieges. Finally, at the beginning of the 15th century, they rebuilt and expanded, but for the 18th century, they simply abandoned it. What we see today is a great rectangular ruin, with the incredible remains of that donjon to the west and the last hall of the east. The long curtain walls contain the patio, with those classic round towers in the corners of the southeast and southwest. A Scottish archaeologist, William Douglas Simpson He even called him one of the “most important secular structures of the Middle Ages in Scotland.” De facto praise.

A bullfellino of sieges and real drama

The land in which Bothwell feels originally granted to David Olifard in the mid -nineteenth century Finally passing to Walter de Moray who began to build this impressive castle. But for when Scottish independence wars It began in 1296, only the main donjon, the prison tower and a brief connection wall were complete, probably defended by a wooden fence.

So, King Eduardo I of England Marched, he seized Bothwell, and an English garnish held her. But the Scots, being Scottish, put siege for 14 full months of 1298-1299 and finally won it. Edward was not having that, so he returned in 1301 with a massive force and even special siege mechanisms to recover it. Bothwell became its headquarters in Scotland for years.

After Robert el Bruce's Epic victory in Bannockburn in 1314, Bothwell He gave refuge to some English nobles. But the castle agent, Sir Walter Fitzgilbert He intelligently handed it over to the Scots who are approaching. Therefore, he was granted the Barony of Cookow, and his descendants became the super powerful Hamilton family . Then, the Scots “disbursed” (or deliberately dismantled) the castle after their surrender so that the English could not use it again.

But wait, there is more. In 1336, the English were back, this time under Edward III . He repaired the castle and made it its Scottish headquarters again. But the following year, Sir Andrew Murray, the legitimate owner, recovered it, wearing siege engines again. And guess what he did? “Despised” again going down the western side of the donjon and falling directly to the Clyde so that the enemy cannot occupy it again. Talk about making a point. The castle remained abandoned for decades after that.

Douglas and subsequent history

Bothwell's story took another turn in 1362 when Joan Moray from Bothwell, the heiress, married Archibald Douglas Nicknamed “The Grim”. He began reconstructing Bothwell, repairing that donjon and completing the walls. His son, also Archibald, continued the work, added the great room and a chapel, with more towers and curtain walls, completing the patio in 1424.

Then came the fall of the “Black” Dugas in 1455, and the castle returned to the crown, went through several hands and finally returned to the Douglas again. Later, the first count of Forfar, Archibald Douglas, actually began to build a new Mansion nearby and even demolished the northeast tower of the castle for its stone. (His house has also gone now, thanks to the mining sinking).

After 1715, the castle ended with the upper line of the Douglas family and then the counts of their home. Finally, in 1935, the 13th EARL generously put Bothwell in the care of the State. It is now administered by the historic Scotland environment as a scheduled monument and was open to the public until 2020, when it closed due to security problems. Always consult your website to obtain the most current visit information, since things can change.

What to expect: design and importance

Although it was never completely completed in its great original design, Bothwell Castle design is similar to other strong strengths such as Coucy and Dirleton, with its impressive Keep or Donjon round. That maintenance, even in ruins, had the origin of 82 feet high and 62 feet in diameter, with 15 -foot thick walls. With additional additions such as thick walls and a powerful gateway, “one of the most important military strengths of Scotland” was really considered.

So, although you cannot walk through all the rooms of Bothwell Castle today, stand inside its huge walls, look at those incredible ruins and imagine the fierce battles and the real intrigue that happened here is an experience that you will not forget. Seriously, if you are plotting a trip to Scotland, be sure to add Bothwell Castle to your list of places to visit. You will not regret soak in this great story.

Finally, and this is a enormous Point for me, Bothwell Castle is undoubtedly the most orderly castle that I have been so far in Scotland. The whole environment is incredibly well stored, I mean, In fact Well saved. Not a single piece of garbage anywhere, and even the old walls look clean. In fact, we had to stop and congratulate the lovely lady at the entrance because, Wow, the dedication is shown. So, for now, I am officially giving Bothwell Castle the most orderly and oldest castle title of Scotland. Very impressive.

ADDRESS : Castle Ave, Uddingston, Bothwell, Glasgow G71 8bl