From
the car park visitors should follow the path to the ferry across the River Dee to Threave
Island. If the river conditions are such that the ferry cannot sail, then a notice is left
at the car park.
Threave was built around 1369
by Sir Archibald Douglas to help pacify Galloway. However, he became a threat himself. The
Black Douglas was overthrown in 1455 and the Crown appointed keepers until 1526 when the
Maxwells became hereditary keepers. The Covenanters attacked the castle in 1640 after
which it was abandoned. For a short time it acted as a prison during the French wars. It
was placed in state care in 1913 by Edward Gordon, and given to the National Trust in 1948
by Major A F Gordon. |
