County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Dumfries and Galloway
12 castles in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland's south-west corner - Caerlaverock's unique triangular plan is unlike any other castle in Britain.
Map
Every castle on this list - 12 in total, 5 free to enter, 2 you can stay overnight in
Caerlaverock Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Triangular moated castle; some conservation access restrictions
Photo: Simon Ledingham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Drumlanrig Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Seasonal castle tours; country estate and gardens
Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Castle Kennedy
Dumfries and Galloway
Ticketed seasonal gardens around ruined castle
Photo: Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Threave Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Island tower of Archibald the Grim; boat access; also listed under National Trust for Scotland
Photo: LornaMCampbell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
MacLellan's Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Kirkcudbright townhouse-castle; seasonal opening
Photo: Parrot of Doom, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Morton Castle
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Free remote hall-house above an artificial loch
Photo: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Lochmaben Castle
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Free lochside ruin linked to Robert the Bruce
Photo: Jonathan Oldenbuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Carsluith Castle
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Free 16th-century tower house beside Wigtown Bay
Photo: Tom Parnell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Orchardton Tower
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Scotland's only free-standing round tower house; free
Photo: Mike Palmer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Castle of St John, Stranraer
Dumfries and Galloway
c.1500 L-plan tower house of the Adairs of Kilhilt, later a courthouse, Covenanting-era garrison, Victorian prison and WWII ARP post; now a small museum.
Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Cardoness Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
15th-century tower house; seasonal opening
Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Common questions
How many castles are there in Dumfries and Galloway?
This roll lists 12 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Dumfries and Galloway. Of those, 5 are free to enter and 6 charge admission. The other one has restricted access.
Which castles in Dumfries and Galloway are free to visit?
5 of the 12 castles in Dumfries and Galloway are open-access sites with no admission charge, namely Morton Castle, Lochmaben Castle, Carsluith Castle, Orchardton Tower and Drumcoltran Tower.
What is the best-rated castle in Dumfries and Galloway?
Castle Kennedy is among the highest-rated castles in Dumfries and Galloway on this roll - 4.7/5 from 459 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle in Dumfries and Galloway?
Yes - 2 of the castles listed here offer overnight stays, namely Drumlanrig Castle and Castle Kennedy.
Can you reach any castle in Dumfries and Galloway by train?
One of the 12, Castle of St John, Stranraer, sits within 1.5 miles of a railway station (Stranraer, 0.4 miles). That's a straight-line distance from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in Dumfries and Galloway?
Not all of them on the same terms. 1 of the 12 restricts what a visitor can see. At Castle Kennedy the building itself isn't open to visitors, so you see it from the grounds or from outside.