The ruins of a twelfth century earthworks and fourteenth century castle in the village of Torthorwald stands on a hill in the middle of pasture. Although I've read that visitors are allowed to access the castle ruins, the fencing was lined with barbed wire without any place to climb over the fence, so I was only able to appreciate the castle from a distance below.
The history of the castle lies with the Kirkpatrick family in 1418 and then the Carlyle family in 1544. It was primarily used as a residence and is best described as a fortified house. It was the reason for a family feud of Michael Carlyle who attacked the castle with his sister-in-law staying there and then fought over ownership of it with the Douglas family, who it was passed to through marriage. The roof was removed in the 16th century, and that was the downfall of the castle.
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