Dumbarton Castle

Dumbarton Castle is a medieval castle that guards where the River Leven joins the River Clyde. Its recorded history goes back 1,500 years. Throughout Dumbarton Castle’s long history, it has been a royal residence and a fortress and has many fascinating connections from the Vikings to the Scottish Wars of Independence. Mary Queen of Scots sailed to France from here as a child in 1548. Dumbarton Castle was the centre of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde, supposedly visited by Merlin. It was later sacked by the Vikings. It became a cornerstone of medieval royal power and later served as a military base and prison. (Dumbarton, Scotland)