Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle is one of Scotland’s most spectacular and distinctive historic sites — a perfectly triangular moated castle rising from the flat marshlands of the Solway coast, just south of Dumfries. Dating from the 13th century, it has seen sieges, battles and dramatic history, and today stands as one of the finest medieval castle ruins in Scotland.
Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the grassed castle grounds, and the moat and curtain walls make for a truly photogenic setting — your dog will look magnificent in front of that backdrop. The surrounding Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve offers further walking, particularly along the Solway shoreline, where barnacle geese arrive in their thousands each autumn.
Managed by Historic Environment Scotland, the castle is open year-round with modest entry fees — HES members visit free. The visitor facilities include a small shop and toilets. After your castle visit, the nature reserve trails are free to access and make a grand extension to the day. One of D&G’s best combined history-and-nature days out.