Castledown
Well-known member
I visited Kenmure in July 2009. The castle, dating from the 16th Century, sits atop a rocky knoll at the Northern tip of Loch Ken about a mile and a half South of New Galloway.
From this elevated position the house would once have enjoyed expansive views over the loch but surrounding trees have now obscured this, however you can still glimpse it's gables and chimneys from the shore. The location of the castle is somewhat romantic, approached by a tree-lined avenue to the base of the knoll before a winding track leads you to the top.
The castle itself appears as quite a bleak structure, originally E-shape but later reduced to L-plan which now stands in a state of ruin with no roof and most of the internal floors having collapsed. The grey rendered exterior and largely unadorned walls create a stark, almost institutional appearance consistent to the castle’s past use as a defensive structure. There are however some interesting 17th century details remaining which go some way to alleviate the otherwise unforgiving façade.
Kenmure was altered in the 19th century and was later used as a private hotel before being sold to a demolition contractor who stripped it of its fittings and abandoned it as the ruin it is today.
From this elevated position the house would once have enjoyed expansive views over the loch but surrounding trees have now obscured this, however you can still glimpse it's gables and chimneys from the shore. The location of the castle is somewhat romantic, approached by a tree-lined avenue to the base of the knoll before a winding track leads you to the top.
The castle itself appears as quite a bleak structure, originally E-shape but later reduced to L-plan which now stands in a state of ruin with no roof and most of the internal floors having collapsed. The grey rendered exterior and largely unadorned walls create a stark, almost institutional appearance consistent to the castle’s past use as a defensive structure. There are however some interesting 17th century details remaining which go some way to alleviate the otherwise unforgiving façade.
Kenmure was altered in the 19th century and was later used as a private hotel before being sold to a demolition contractor who stripped it of its fittings and abandoned it as the ruin it is today.
