Doune Castle

Doune Castle is an imposing Medieval castle in the Stirling district of central Scotland, sited on a wooded bend where a tributary joins the River Teith, across a bridge from the village of Doune. It lies 8 miles (13 km) north-west of Stirling where the River Teith flows into the River Forth. Upstream, 8 miles (13 km) further north-west the town of Callander lies at the edge of the Trossachs mountain region of the Scottish highlands. It can be found at grid reference NN728010.

The site is defended on three sides by the ground sloping steeply down to the rivers, and the approach from the north is defended by earthworks. The castle is entered through a narrow gateway and a 46 ft (14 m) long vaulted passageway that leads to a large central courtyard. Off this, steps lead up to the Great hall which is connected by arched servery hatches and a door to the massive kitchen. An enclosed staircase from the courtyard reaches the timber panelled Lord's hall and other apartments, which all together give a vivid impression of life in a medieval castle.

History
Approach from the north showing the entrance gateway.The castle was largely built at the end of the 14th century by Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany whose brother King Robert III of Scotland became unfit to rule, and from 1388 Albany governed the Kingdom. The King's eldest son, in Albany's custody, died mysteriously in 1402. On Albany's death in 1420 control of the country and the castle passed to his son, Murdoch, but when King James I of Scotland returned in 1424 from captivity in England Murdoch was imprisoned for treason then beheaded.

Doune Castle then became a royal retreat and hunting lodge for monarchs including Mary Queen of Scots.

In 1570, the first Lord Doune, Sir James Stewart was granted possession of the castle by James V. Lord Doune's grandson became the Earl of Moray by marrying the Regent Moray's daughter, and the Earls of Moray have owned it ever since.

During the Jacobite Rising of 1745 Doune Castle became a prison for government supporters captured by the Jacobites, some of whom including the author John Home escaped by knotting together bedsheets and climbing from the kitchen window. Another prisoner was a Scottish minister John Witherspoon who later moved to the American colonies and became a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence.

The castle is now owned by Historic Scotland and is open to the public

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