Carrick Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carrick Castle
Carrick Castle being restored, 2019
General information
Type	Tower House
Location	Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute.
Town or city	Carrick Castle (village)
Country	Scotland, United Kingdom
Coordinates	56°06′31″N 4°54′20″W / 56.108742°N 4.9054980°W / 56.108742; -4.9054980, National
Construction started	14th Century
Height	64ft
Technical details
Material	Stone
Floor count	2

Carrick Castle is an old castle from the 1300s. It sits right on the edge of Loch Goil in Scotland. This castle is a special type called a tower house, which means it's a tall, strong building designed for defense. It's located on the Cowal peninsula, a beautiful area in Argyll and Bute.

The castle stands on a rocky piece of land. Long ago, a ditch and a drawbridge protected it from the land side. The building is very tall, about 64 feet high, with walls that are seven feet thick! It has two floors above its main great hall.

Today, the area around the castle is also called Carrick Castle. The castle itself is a scheduled monument and a Category A listed building. This means it's a very important historical site protected by Historic Environment Scotland.

History of Carrick Castle

Who Built Carrick Castle?

The Campbells likely built Carrick Castle in the late 1300s. At that time, the Campbell family was very powerful in this part of Scotland. They probably used it as a strong home and a way to control the area.

Royal Visits to the Castle

Carrick Castle was once a hunting lodge for Scottish kings. King James IV used it when he went hunting. Later, in 1563, Mary, Queen of Scots also visited the castle. Imagine a queen staying in this very tower!

The Castle in Battle

In 1685, there was a conflict called Argyll's Rising. During this time, a ship from the Royal Navy, HMS Kingfisher, attacked the castle. The ship's captain reported that the castle was burned and its walls damaged. Legend says the ship's cannons bombarded the castle, causing it to lose its roof. This made the castle useless to the Campbell forces.

Later Years and Restoration

After the battle, the castle was used on and off for a while. Eventually, it was sold to the Murray family, who were the Earls of Dunmore. For many years, the castle was just a ruin.

However, Carrick Castle is now privately owned. It is being carefully restored to bring it back to life.

Images for kids

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  The ruin of Carrick Castle around 1890, with pier attracting tourism

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  Carrick Castle in 2019, under restoration and re-roofed.