Ardgowan Castle

Ardgowan Castle stands on a promontory above the Firth of Clyde in Inverclyde, near Inverkip. The 15th-century tower house is now a roofless ruin, protected as a category B listed building. It was originally called Inverkip Castle and was built to defend against Viking raids. The site includes steep slopes and cliffs on three sides, with a level top where the tower once stood. The castle played a key role in the First War of Scottish Independence, changing hands several times between English and Scottish forces. The castle’s history is tied to figures like King Edward I of England, Robert the Bruce, and Sir James Douglas. In 1303, English forces besieged and captured Inverkip Castle, using it as a base for further campaigns. Robert the Bruce himself is said to have taken part in the fight to seize the castle. Later, in 1306, supporters of Bruce besieged it again, and in 1307, Sir Philip Mowbray fled there after defeat. Ardgowan Castle is now part of the Ardgowan Estate, privately owned and not open to the public. It can be seen from a public path below the promontory. Nearby stands Ardgowan House, built in the early 19th century for the Shaw Stewart family, who still hold the baronetcy today. The ruin itself was repaired in 1936, preserving its crumbling walls for visitors to view from a distance.