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." http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/caer/caer.html
25 Comments
Cristina Andrisan 26 May 2008
Thank you for information and description.Great image.Gordon Christie 07 Jun 2007
Missed it first time round. Beautiful and great description!Mary Ashton 05 Apr 2007
A magnificant ruin and interesting text Cynthia. MaryJanet Gioffre Harrington 04 Apr 2007
WOWEEE! Hard to believe. Magnificent.Robin Brown 04 Apr 2007
I saw this Cynthia & thought; I don't remember posting this one. Then I realised its not one of mine. We choose near enough the same spot to shoot the Castle. Great minds Cynthia. Well doneMary Janosik 04 Apr 2007
What a great castle and wonderful history that comes with it. The true stories are better than that "Hollywood stuff". What a great photo, Cynthia!!Steve Newport 04 Apr 2007
Excellent image Cynthia.Hassan Pasha 03 Apr 2007
Listen, lad. I built this kingdom up from nothing. When I started here, all there was was swamp. Other kings said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built it all the same, just to show 'em. It sank into the swamp. So, I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third one. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one... stayed up! And that's what you're gonna get, lad: the strongest castle in these islands.~Monty Python ... Awesome PhotoCarliss Mora 03 Apr 2007
Great text, and so informational. Cynthia. Fabulous capture!bianca 03 Apr 2007
what a great beauty u have captured....important is that u took great angle to capture this....not just snap lol.....AWSOMEbert cortes 03 Apr 2007
Lovely photo, Cynthiajamie winter 03 Apr 2007
fantasitc. this is so unreal. wow jamiethea walstra 03 Apr 2007
Very beautiful work CynthiaMrs.David Jobes(Dee) Jobes 03 Apr 2007
Great capture!!!Stunning!!!:)William Boyer 03 Apr 2007
Great shotAlberto D'Assumpcao 03 Apr 2007
Wonderful capture, Cynthia! Excellent place!Teresa Trant 03 Apr 2007
Oh wow, I just can imagine this in the day with a drawbridge and allJoke Schotting 03 Apr 2007
GREAT SHOT CYNTHIA!!!!Joanna Jungjohann 03 Apr 2007
wow! Welcome Back Cynthia, I missed your uploads. I see you also come back wi the big bang!! brilliant image and story!!!Dean Swinfield 03 Apr 2007
stunningKarim Bouchnak 03 Apr 2007
wow.ExcellentRenata Cavanaugh 03 Apr 2007
Beautiful capture CynthiaLucia Stewart 03 Apr 2007
Excellent shot!!Emily Reed 03 Apr 2007
FANASTIC CASTLE SHOT!Karen Cash 03 Apr 2007
wow! wow! wow! wonderful!! I do so wish I could visit such fabulous places!