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Loch Doon
Castle is in East Ayrshire on the
banks of Loch Doon, 9 miles southeast of
Dalmellington village, 23 miles
east of Ayr.
Loch Doon Castle was built in the late
1200s on an Island in the Loch. A Dam was
built at Loch Doon in 1936 for a hydro
electric system. This system uses water
from a number of Lochs in the area, with
the Kendoon Power Station being 10 miles
southeast.
The Castle is a great place to visit
with two good hill walks that begin from
the castle to the 1.401ft Wee Hill of
Craigmulloch, as seen right, and the
1,716ft Craiglea.
1271 - the husband of Marjorie
Countess of Carrick died on the 8th
Crusade.
Marjorie married Robert Bruce soon
after. Robert Bruce held lands in south
Scotland with his main castle being at
Lochmaben, 8 miles east of
Dumfries.
The marriage of Robert and Marjorie
led to them living at Turnberry Castle, 30 miles west
of Loch Doon on the Ayrshire coast. They
had five sons and five daughters at
Turnberry, one being Robert the Bruce,
the future King of Scotland.
It is believed Loch Doon Castle was
built at that time with 11 sides.
1296 – 1328 - during the First War of
Scottish Independence, Loch Doon
Castle was captured by the English when
it was governed by Sir Gilbert de
Carrick.
1314 - Robert the Bruce captured Loch
Doon Castle during his campaign to remove
English forces from Scotland.
1332 – 1357 - during the Second War of
Scottish Independence, Loch Doon
Castle was besieged by English forces in
1335. Troops loyal to David II (son of
Robert the Bruce) managed to hold out.
David II retained the throne of
Scotland.
1400s, Loch Doon Castle was in the
hands of the Kennedy family, largest
landowners in southwest Scotland,
relations of the Bruce's.
1446 - Loch Doon Castle was captured
from the Kennedy's by William Douglas,
8th Earl of Douglas.
1510 - The Castle was back under
Kennedy control.
1511 - Loch Doon Castle was set on
fire during an attack by men of William
Crauford of Lefnoris.
1500s - Loch Doon Castle fell into a
ruin. Some reports state King James V of
Scotland may have had the Castle
destroyed as he set about reducing the
power of large landowners. The King had
been advised - some landowners were so
powerful, they had desires of becoming
King of Scotland themselves.
1823 - six dug out canoes were found
close to the Castle gate, with one having
a Viking battle-axe. The Axe can be seen
in the Kirkudbright
Museum. The Hunterian
Museum in Glasgow
holds two of the boats.
1936 - A Dam was built at Loch Doon
raising the water level. The Castle was
moved to the west bank of the loch at
that time.
The image right is of what Loch Doon
Castle may have looked like when it was
on the Island in the Loch. Large Image.
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