Drumlanrig Castle facts for kids
Front of Drumlanrig Castle
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| Established | 14th century |
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| Location | Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Owner | Montagu-Douglas-Scott Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry |
Drumlanrig Castle is a grand old castle located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It sits on the large Queensberry Estate. This amazing building is the home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry.
The castle is a very important historical building, known as a "category A listed" site. You can visit the castle itself during certain times of the year. However, the areas around it, like the stableyard and adventure playground, are open almost all year. You can also enjoy walking, hiking, and cycling paths throughout the year. Sometimes, these paths might close if there's bad weather, like when Storm Arwen caused damage in 2021.
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Building Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle is sometimes called the 'Pink Palace'. This is because it was built from special pink sandstone. The castle was constructed between 1679 and 1689. It is a great example of Renaissance architecture from the late 1600s. Renaissance architecture often features balanced designs and classical details.
The first Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas, had the castle built. It stands on the spot where an older Douglas family fort once stood. The castle overlooks the beautiful Nith Valley. Drumlanrig Castle is huge, with 120 rooms! It also has 17 turrets and four towers.
In 1984, scientists used aerial photos to find something cool. They discovered the outline of a large Roman fort near the castle. It was about 350 yards away. In 2004, the TV show Time Team even dug up parts of this Roman fort.
Amazing Art Collection
Drumlanrig Castle is home to a fantastic art collection. It's part of the Duke of Buccleuch collection. You can see many famous artworks here. One famous painting is An Old Woman Reading by Rembrandt.
Another very famous painting is Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna of the Yarnwinder. This painting had an exciting adventure! It was stolen from the castle in 2003. Luckily, it was found in Glasgow in 2007 and returned. The Madonna of the Yarnwinder is currently on display at the Scottish National Gallery. The castle also has many other beautiful paintings, woven tapestries, and interesting art objects.
Fun Things to Do Nearby
The castle grounds offer lots of fun things for visitors and local people. These attractions are located in the old stable yard and in a special part of the gardens.
You can visit the Stableyard Studios. These are places where local businesses have their shops. There is also a nice tearoom where you can get a snack or a drink. For younger visitors, there is an adventure playground. It's a great place to run around and have fun!
Where Did the Name Come From?
The name Drumlanrig has a long history. The earliest time we see it written down is in 1384. Back then, it was spelled Drumlangryg.
There are a few ideas about what the name means. It might come from an old language called Cumbric. In Cumbric, drum means 'ridge' and -lanerc means 'a small area of cleared woodland'. Another idea is that the first part, Drum, comes from the Gaelic word druim, which also means 'ridge'. This might have been added to a Scots word *lang-rigg, meaning 'long ridge'.
Gallery
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Drumlanrig Castle side on view looking at the right-hand side
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Drumlanrig Castle illustration in 1880
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Original plan. The building extends 145 ft (44m)
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Planned front entrance illustration
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Drumlanrig Castle side on view looking at the left-hand side
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Main/Front car park, looking down from Stableyard towards front gate to Castle itself, as well as road towards Adventure Playground
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View inside the Stableyard, towards the rear, facing an exit as well as the general direction of the Castle
See also
- Tibbers Castle – a 12th-century castle ruin on the Drumlanrig Castle estate.
- In Spanish: Castillo de Drumlanrig para niños
