Castles of Clan Wallace
Riccarton Castle (Ayrshire)
Riccarton Castle, located near Kilmarnock, was one of the earliest seats of the Wallace family. It was traditionally held by Richard Wallace, the ancestor of the Wallace of Riccarton branch, and is often cited as the birthplace of William Wallace’s father. Although nothing of the castle remains today, its importance as a power center for the early Wallace family is widely recognized. A commemorative plaque now marks the site. Riccarton remains central to the origins of Clan Wallace.
Elderslie (Renfrewshire)
Elderslie is known as the traditional birthplace of Sir William Wallace. Though not a castle, it was the home of the Wallace family of Elderslie, who held lands in Renfrewshire from the 13th century. The original structure was likely a fortified manor or hall house. No buildings survive, but the location is marked by a monument and is honored as a foundational part of clan history. Elderslie remains the most iconic Wallace site in Scotland.
Craigie Castle (South Ayrshire)
Craigie Castle, situated near Kilmarnock, was acquired by the Wallace family in the late 14th century. It became the seat of the Wallaces of Craigie, a prominent cadet branch, and remained in the family until the late 16th century. The castle consisted of a hall-house and a later tower wing, now a substantial ruin. Craigie was also associated with Blind Harry, who is said to have recorded Wallace’s story here. It served as a lasting seat of Wallace authority in Ayrshire.
Newton Castle (Ayr)
Newton Castle in Ayr became the residence of the Wallaces of Craigie after Craigie Castle was abandoned. It served as the principal home of the family in the 17th and early 18th centuries. The structure was later demolished, and no trace of it remains today. The estate was succeeded by Craigie House, a Georgian mansion built in the 1730s. Newton Castle bridged the medieval and modern chapters of Wallace history.
Craigie House (Ayr)
Craigie House was constructed in the 18th century to replace the older Wallace residences at Newton and Craigie. Built in 1733, it became the seat of the Wallaces of Craigie until the estate passed out of the family in 1782. The house remains standing and is now part of a university campus. Its elegant Georgian design reflects the gentrification of the Wallace legacy. Craigie House marks the clan’s transition from feudal lords to landed gentry.
Auchenbathie Tower (Renfrewshire)
Auchenbathie Tower, located near Beith, was associated with the Wallace family of Elderslie. It was likely a small defensive tower or hall, serving as a secondary seat for this cadet branch. The remains are minimal today, consisting of scattered stonework amid woodland. Though little survives, Auchenbathie represents the spread of Wallace landholding in Renfrewshire. It also maintains a connection to Wallace family traditions.
Busbie Castle (East Ayrshire)
Busbie Castle, also known as Busbie Tower, was held by the Wallaces of Busbie, a cadet branch that became prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries. The structure was largely demolished in the 20th century, though fragments may still exist on private land. The Wallaces of Busbie produced a number of notable military officers, including Captain Henry Wallace, who re-established the chiefship in the 19th century. The site once symbolized the clan’s continuing status in Ayrshire. Though now vanished, its name lives on in Wallace lineage.
Carnell Castle (Ayrshire)
Carnell Castle, formerly known as Cairnhill, was the seat of the Wallaces of Carnell, a cadet branch active during the late medieval and early modern period. The 16th-century tower was incorporated into a Georgian mansion that still stands today. The estate has been used as a private residence and hospitality venue. The Wallaces of Carnell maintained control of the property into the 19th century. Its preservation adds to the clan’s legacy of elegant country estates.
Crosbie Castle (North Ayrshire)
Crosbie Castle near West Kilbride was associated with the Wallace family through maternal ties or tenancy during the late medieval period. The site may have housed Wallace for a time during his campaign against the English, according to tradition. Later converted into a mansion, only scattered ruins remain. Though not a primary residence, Crosbie Castle reflects the breadth of Wallace activity in Ayrshire. It remains a place of local significance to clan history.
Sundrum Castle (South Ayrshire)
Sundrum Castle, located near Coylton, was held by the Wallace family in the 14th century. Sir Duncan Wallace, a relative of the patriot, is said to have built or fortified the original keep. The tower was expanded in later centuries and converted into a mansion. The estate left Wallace hands by the 17th century but was later restored and used as a hotel. Sundrum is one of the few Wallace castles still standing.
Auchans Castle (South Ayrshire)
Auchans Castle, near Dundonald, was held by the Wallaces of Dundonald during the 16th century. Colonel James Wallace, a Covenanter leader, lived here before the castle passed to the Cochranes and later the Montgomeries. The L-plan castle is now a substantial ruin surrounded by parkland. Its Wallace chapter is short but significant, marking their political and military engagement in the Covenanting era. The ruins still bear traces of Renaissance-era refinement.
Cloncaird Castle (South Ayrshire)
Cloncaird Castle near Kirkmichael became associated with the Wallace family in the 19th century. Captain Hugh Henry Wallace of Busbie acquired the estate and served as Chief of Clan Wallace. The existing mansion incorporates parts of a 16th-century tower and features Georgian and Victorian additions. Though no longer in the family, the castle symbolizes the clan’s revival in modern times. Cloncaird was the seat of the Wallace chiefship for several generations.
Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Wallace
Ardrossan Castle (North Ayrshire)
Ardrossan Castle was never held by the Wallaces but is remembered for an attack led by William Wallace in 1297. He reportedly captured the English garrison and dumped the bodies in the cellar, earning the place the name “Wallace’s Larder.” The ruins still stand on a promontory above the sea. The castle later passed to the Montgomeries. Its association with Wallace is legendary and part of local tradition.
Dunnottar Castle (Aberdeenshire)
Dunnottar Castle, a coastal fortress near Stonehaven, was seized by Wallace during his 1297 campaign. He is said to have burned the English garrison in the castle’s chapel. Though it was later rebuilt and owned by the Keiths, Wallace’s assault is part of its early history. The castle remains one of the most dramatic ruins in Scotland. The site still honors its Wallace connection through local lore.
Stirling Castle (Stirlingshire)
Stirling Castle played a central role in Wallace’s victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. While he never held the castle directly, his triumph nearby led to its temporary surrender. The castle remains a symbol of Scotland’s medieval wars. A statue of Wallace stands nearby as a tribute. Its role in the Wars of Independence links it closely to his legacy.
Dundee Castle (Dundee, Angus)
Dundee Castle was besieged by Wallace in 1297 during the Scottish uprising. He left the siege to fight at Stirling Bridge and returned to accept the castle’s surrender. The site was later destroyed and no longer survives. Its brief capture marks one of Wallace’s early military successes. The event helped solidify his leadership.
Lanark Castle (South Lanarkshire)
Lanark Castle was burned by William Wallace in 1297 after he killed the English sheriff, William Heselrig. The event marked the start of Wallace’s national uprising. The castle was likely a wooden or simple stone structure and has since vanished. The site is commemorated in Lanark with monuments. It represents the moment Wallace stepped into legend.
References
Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
Clan Wallace Society Worldwide. (n.d.). Clan History and Heritage Properties.
RCAHMS. (n.d.). National Monuments Record of Scotland.