Situated on an island in the River Dee, west of Castle Douglas, Threave Castle was built in the 1370s by Archibald the Grim.
It was the stronghold of the “Black Douglases”, until their fall in 1455. In 1449, Threave came under the control of the
8th Earl of Douglas, Scotland’s most powerful magnate, who fortified the castle with an artillery house. The excessive power
of the Black Douglas lords led to their overthrow by King James II in 1455, after which it became a royal castle.
In the mid 17th century, the castle was partially dismantled and remained largely unused until taken over by the state in 1913.
The castle is now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland.
The little boats are the means of crossing the river to gain access to the island and the castle.