Lochore Castle facts for kids

Lochore Castle is a ruined 14th-century tower house located about 3 miles (5 km) south east of Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland. It stands south of Lochore and east of Loch Ore, within the beautiful Lochore Country Park.

Not much of the castle remains today. It was originally built on an island called Inchgall, which means "Isle of Strangers." Sometimes, people also call it Inchgall Castle.

History of Lochore Castle

Long ago, around the time of King Malcolm IV of Scotland, the Duncan family of Lochore built a simple fort here. This fort was a type of castle called a motte, which was a large mound of earth with a wooden tower on top.

Later, the Valances family took control of the castle, possibly through marriage. They made the castle much bigger and built the main stone tower, known as a keep, during the 1300s. They likely lowered the original motte to build this new stone structure. After the Valances, the castle was owned by the Wardlaws of Torrie, and then by the Malcolms of Balbedie.

Towards the end of the 1700s, the loch (lake) next to the castle was drained. This changed the landscape around the castle significantly.

What Lochore Castle Looked Like

The main tower, or keep, of Lochore Castle had four floors. The castle also featured a courtyard with four smaller towers at each corner. Other buildings were located inside this courtyard. It is thought that people reached the castle by a causeway, which is a raised road, from the east side.

In the 1980s, the wider area around the castle was carefully restored. The loch was refilled, and the land was landscaped. This was done to repair the damage caused by mining activities in the 20th century, bringing the area back to its natural beauty.

Images for kids

• 

  Loch Ore Castle, from the north-east, circa 1880