Morton Castle

Morton Castle is located by an artificial loch in the hills above Nithsdale, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland.

The Treaty of Berwick in 1357, which secured the release of David II, also required the Scots to destroy thirteen castles in Nithsdale, including Morton.

The lands of Morton passed to the earls of March, who probably built (or rebuilt) the existing castle in the early 15th century.

A dam was constructed in the 18th century to flood the marshland, creating the artificial loch which now surrounds the castle on three sides.

Gifford discusses the possibility that the defensive structures date from the original, 14th-century castle, which was then rebuilt as a hunting lodge in the 15th century.

Here, large, fine arched windows and a lack of arrow loops suggest that this range was either built or remodelled as a hunting lodge.