Craigend Castle

The ruins of Craigend Castle can be found in the Mugdock Country Park, fenced off and overtaken by trees.

It is in fact not a castle at all, but a country house. It was built in 1815, in a Regency Gothic style by the Edinburgh born designer, Alexander Ramsay for James Smith.

I had spotted Mugdock Castle on my OS Map without realising how much Mugdock Country Park had to offer. I was delighted to find that there was another castle in the park, that was of course until found out it wasn't a castle at all. Still the building did not disappoint.

The lands around Craigend were part of the 'Barony of Mugdock' which was owned by the Graham's from the mid 1200's. It was the Graham's that were responsible for the nearby Mugdock Castle.

James Graham, the 2nd Marquis of Montrose, was forced to sell part of the estates to clear off the debt left by his father. This included the land where Craigend Castle now stands, an area called 'Gallowhill' which was bought by Robert Smith in 1660.

The Smiths had been tenants on the estate for years, and Robert was quite happy with the modest house which stood where the ruins of Craigend Castle stands today.

In the second half of the 1700's, John Smith, a Glasgow merchant, built a more modern house to replace the old residence, but soon after his death, his son James had more ostentatious plans.

It was James who had the Regency Gothic house built in 1815, incorporating his father's property. Although designed and built by Alexander Ramsay, the initial designs were provided by James's cousin, James Smith of Jordanhill.

When James died in 1838, his son John inherited the estate and sold it in 1851 to Sir Andrew Buchanan.

The house is now ruinous and roofless with castellated Gothic features. I always find there's something romantic about Gothic architecture.

The square tower to south and and octagonal tower to east, are adorned with corbelled parapets replicating that of a castle, no doubt where is gained its 'castle' name. The mixture of rectangular and arched windows, giving it that extra ostentatious feel. The interior of the house continued the Gothic theme.

Sir Andrew Buchanan, a former Ambassador to the Habsburg court in Vienna, bought Craigend in 1851.

In the early 1900's, he leased to property to James Outram a Chartered Accountant, and then Sir Harold Yarrow, the Managing Director of a Shipbuilders.

In 1949, Andrew Wilson a Glasgow businessman and his zoologist son, William, bought part of Craigend Estate from the Buchanan family and opened a zoo at Craigend Castle and Stables.

It housed a variety of exotic animals, but it didn't attract enough visitors and was forced to close in 1955.

Anyone who knows me will be suprised there are no close up's of the ruins, but I walked around the perimeter fence a couple of times and couldn't find anywhere to squeeze through. Someone has been doing their job properly, dash it.

The stables and zoo grounds became part of Mugdock Country Park. The stable block was converted to the Mugdock Park Visitor's Centre in 1996, but the house deteriorated and was placed on the At Risk Register in 1990.

Even though you cannot access the ruins, there are plenty of other things to do and see around Mugdock Country Park. Whether you like walking, history, nature or wildlife, the park is worth a family day out.

Why not try this Mugdock Circular Walk, it includes the Mugdock Anti Aircraft Gun Placement and Mugdock Castle.

Craigend Castle is a Category C Listed Building with Historic Environment Scotland.

It is less than 0.5km to the Craigend Castle.

Follow the above route, or find on OS Maps.