Surrounded by a double moat and hundreds of acres of flat marshy willow woods (known in Scotland as a "moss"), Caerlaverock was built to control the South-West entrance to Scotland which in early times was the waterway across the Solway Firth.

Building began in about 1277, and by 1300 it was besieged by Edward I during his war against the Scottish king John (Balliol), a war still remembered for the brave resistance put up by the Scots under Sir William Wallace. Its triangular plan is unique in Scotland, and during the seige of 1300 it was noted as being

"so strong a castle that it feared no siege... in shape it was like a shield for it has but three sides round it, with a tower at each corner... And I think that you will never see a more finely situated castle, for on one side can be seen the Irish Sea, towards the west and to the north the fair moorland, surrounded by an arm of the sea, so that no creature born can approach it on two sides without putting himself in danger of the sea. On the south side it is not easy, for there are many places difficult to get through because of woods and marshes and ditches hollowed out by the sea where it meets the river."

Today the castle is well worth visiting, not only because of the unspoilt surrounding countryside which enables the visitor easily to imagine what it was like in medieval times, but also because inside it has the remains of very sophisticated courtyard residences dating from the 1600's and built by the first Earl of Nithsdale. They are a very fine example of the classical style introduced during the Renaissance, and are similar in conception to those at the Palace of Linlithgow between Edinburgh and Stirling.

The castle is under the care of Historic Scotland and is open to the public. It is best to check admission times (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk) before visiting. Caerlaverock Castle is near the Solway Coast between Gretna Green and Dumfries.

Related pages:

• Traquair House, home of Lady Mary Maxwell daughter of the 4th Earl of Nithsdale, and the oldest inhabited house in Scotland.
• Threave Castle.
• Sir William Wallace.