Historic Places in South Lanarkshire

Craignethan Castle is a ruined castle in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located on a bluff above the River Nethan two miles west of the village of Crossford, and 4.5 miles north-west of Lanark. Craignethan Castle was built in 1532 and was the last purpose-built fortress to be constructed in Scotland. The castle is protected by steep slopes on the south, north and east sides, with defences concentrated towards the west. The castle has a low central keep, within a rectangular walled courtyard. To the west there is a deep ditch beyond which is a larger outer courtyard. Craignethan Castle was built by Sir James Hamilton in 1532. Hamilton was executed for treason and Craignethan passed to the Crown. It was acquired in 1542 by another James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran. Hamilton and his family led the forces supporting Mary Queen of Scots claim to the Scottish Crown. The Earl of Moray had briefly captured Craignethan Castle in 1568 after Mary's defeat at the Battle of Langside, but lost it to the Hamiltons again later the same year. In July 1570 and again in 1571 the Hamiltons launched abortive military coups from their bases at Craignethan Castle and Hamilton Castle. In May 1579, James VI supporters moved against Craignethan Castle and it was abandoned without a fight. In the 1580s the main defences were demolished. The tower house remained in use as a family residence, until 1665. In 1730 Craignethan was sold to the Duke of Douglas. In the late 19th century and the property was given into state care in 1949, and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument managed by Historic Scotland. The Arts Craignethan Castle is said to be the inspiration for "Tillietudlem Castle", in Sir Walter Scott's novel, Old Mortality

Cadzow Castle is a romantic ruin in the Hamilton High Parks above a gorge of the River Avon in South Lanarkshire, a stronghold of the powerful Hamilton family that served as a rallying point for Mary Queen of Scots following her abdication before being destroyed in 1579 by Regent Moray's forces. The ruins of the great rectangular tower and courtyard walls are engulfed by the ancient oak woodland of the High Parks, creating one of the most atmospherically beautiful castle settings in Lanarkshire. The High Parks are also home to the White Cattle of Cadzow, a small herd of primitive semi-wild cattle that have grazed this landscape for centuries and are among the last survivors of the ancient wild cattle of Britain, making Hamilton High Parks one of the most distinctive heritage landscapes in Lanarkshire.

Gilbertfield Castle is a ruined early 17th century castle located on Dechmont Hill, outside Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The castle is now a ruin - the roof and one wall have collapsed. The corbelling of the north-west turret remains. Gilbertfield Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a category B listed building. The castle was completed in 1607 and was owned by the Hamiltons of Gilbertfield. The castle is an L-plan tower house. The basement level was vaulted, and contained cellars and a kitchen, with a large fireplace and oven. A service stair connected the basement with the hall above. Above the hall were two further floors, each with three rooms; two in the main block, and one in the wing. At the highest level, the garret, two round turrets projected at the south-east and north-west corners. There was no parapet.

Shieldhill Castle near Biggar in Lanarkshire is a historic castle of medieval origin that has been operated as a country house hotel for several decades, offering accommodation and dining within an ancient building that incorporates fabric from several centuries of construction and occupation. The castle was associated with the Chancellors of Shieldhill, a family who held lands in this part of Clydesdale from the twelfth century, giving the building one of the longer documented histories of ownership of any castle in Lanarkshire. The surrounding Upper Clydesdale landscape between Biggar and the Southern Uplands is a quietly attractive agricultural area with a distinctive heritage of market towns, prehistoric sites and the remains of the Roman road network that crossed this part of Scotland.

Bothwell Castle is a large medieval castle in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, about 10 miles south-east of Glasgow. It is built on a steep bank above the River Clyde, between Uddingston and Bothwell Construction began in the 13the century by the ancestors of Clan Murray. It is now a large rectangular ruin, with a large circular Donjon (central tower) at the west end and the Great Hall to the east side of the rectangular central courtyard. The castle is surrounded by long curtain walls. It is now managed by Historic Scotland, and is open to the public In 1296, the army of King Edward I of England invaded Scotland and captured Bothwell Castle. The English forces holding the castle was besieged by the Scots for over a year and eventually surrendered. Edward's army returned in 1301 and captured the castle again using siege engines. Bothwell Castle remained in English hands for several years. After Robert the Bruce's victory at Bannockburn in 1314, the castle provided shelter for several English nobles. The castle was surrendered to the Scots who destroyed it. In 1336 the English returned again, under Edward III who had the castle repaired, and again made it his headquarters in Scotland. The following year, Sir Andrew Murray, the rightful owner of the castle recaptured it once more. He partly demolished it and so it could not be reoccupied by the enemy. The castle remained derelict until the 1360s when it was rebuilt by the Douglas family. The Great Hall was added in the 15th century. The castle was finally abandoned in the 18th century.