Druchtag Motte
Sometimes called Druchtag Motehill, or the Mote of Druchtag, this is a classic example of a Norman motte, or castle mound. The conical motte, 6.5 metres high, still shows traces of stone buildings.
The castle mound is surrounded by a ditch up to 25 feet wide and 8 feet deep in places. The top of the mound measures 66 feet across.
We know practically nothing of the history of Druchtag Motte. There are no indications of an encircling bailey as you might expect of a Norman fortification, but from the nature of the site, it seems reasonable to suggest a 12th-century date. It appears that the motte was never converted to a stone castle, as many Norman fortifications were.
Druchtag falls within the Barony of Mochrum of Druchtag which was held for many years by the McCulloch clan. It is one of over 60 similar mottes throughout Dumfries and Galloway and was one of the first historic sites in Scotland to be placed under government care.
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