Nestled in the countryside, near the picturesque market town of Dumfries, along Scotland’s beautiful southern coast, lies the stunning, triangular, red sandstone edifice of Caerlaverock Castle. Built in the thirteenth century, Caerlaverock was the medieval seat of the Maxwell clan until the seventeenth century. Today, the castle is part of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve.
As you cross the moat bridge and approach the castle entrance, above the door is a beautiful carving of the Maxwell crest.
The interior of the castle is filled with artistic carvings.
An exploration of the castle’s towers, stairwells, and windows delight visitors with everything from sweeping views to nesting pigeons. (See AE Musgrave's article on the pigeons of Caerlaverock Castle.)
From atop the walls, visitors can see the iron age hill fort located just a brief walk from the castle.
A walk behind the red sandstone ruin reveals a path through a tranquil bluebell wood leading to the castle’s original site that had been abandoned due to structural instability. The original castle had been built on swampy ground and begun to fall into the moat leading to the building of the castle that stands today. Today, all that remains of the original structure are a handful of foundational outlines.
Turning to the left of the original castle site, visitors can follow a service road back to the Caerlaverock visitors center where more delights await. Children can play at the playground or try on medieval style clothing to play the lord and lady. Items purchased in the castle gift shop go to support upkeep. For the interested visitor, a conversation with one of the park officers can provide a wealth of information about the castle and its surrounding natural environs.
For more photographs of Caerlaverock Castle by JL Musgrave visit: http://www.blurb.com/b/7616499-caerlaverock-castle.
