Description:

Another interesting set of ruins! (I am very partial to bleak landscapes and/or old or ruined buildings).

The foundations of Dirleton date back to the early 13^th century and the complex  was originally surrounded by a deep 20 meter wide moat with an ingenious movable wooden bridge across.

During the Wars of Independence, Dirleton held out for Wallace and was subsequently besieged by Bishop Anthony Beck, henchman of Edward I. The castle had to surrender when the siege machines were brought forward. The Scots however retook Dirleton after a fierce fight in 1311 and made sure the castle would never again be of any use to the English foe.

The final act came in 1650 when the generals Monk and Lambert besieged the castle and forced the garrison to surrender.