Innerwick Castle

Innerwick Castle is a ruined stronghold in East Lothian. It stands on a crag above Thornton Glen, near the village of Innerwick and eight kilometres from Dunbar. The castle was built in the 14th century on the edge of a steep glen. It was once held by the Stewarts and later by the Hamilton family. The site overlooks a deep ravine where the Thornton Burn flows. The castle played a part in several conflicts. In 1406 it was besieged by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. In 1542 an English herald was murdered near Dunbar, and his companion took refuge at Innerwick. During the Rough Wooing the castle was captured and burned by English forces in 1547. Mary of Guise mentioned it in 1560 while French and English troops fought nearby. Today the remains stand on a rocky outcrop popular with climbers. Thornton Glen is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and noted for rare ferns. The glen and the crag form part of the Crowhill Estate. Visitors can walk the paths beside the burn and look up at the ruined walls. The setting remains dramatic, with the glen cutting sharply into the landscape.