Mugdock Castle

The last time we were here it was raining heavily, we vowed to return in better weather and did so today.

The walk had an inauspicious start, as at the entrance I trod on an abandoned screw (well over an inch long) which went through my walking boot and cut into my foot. I was cleaned up and bandaged by the excellent first-aider (I wish I had caught his name) and the screw removed from the boot and taken away by a colleague before I thought to blip it.

We took the route to the ancient Mugdock Castle which dates from the early C13 and is a scheduled Ancient Monument and category A listed; we then continued round the lake and back to the visitor centre.

Sir David Graham of Dundaff was granted the estate of Mugdock in 1244 and his descendents of Earls, Marquises and Dukes of montrose retained the castle until 1945. Over the years many alterations were made, including the building of a mansion house within the walls in 1874; this was demolished in 1967.

The southwest tower seen here dates from 1372, the only remaining one of four linked by a curtain wall. Akin to the traditional tower house, access is at first floor level by an outside stair, and has four storeys. To the left is the C15 entrance which leads to the outer courtyard. The original entrance, to right, still shows grooves where a portcullis fitted. Remnants of the more recent occupation are a rusting kitchen range and the marks of a doorbell at the entrance to the mansion house.

Apart from a few twinges my foot survived the walk and has now been bathed, re-disinfected and bears a modest sticking plaster.