Dalmellington Mote
The Dalmellington Mote can be found in the centre of this historic town. Motes (mottes) were originally fortified sites on which timber castles would sit. Wooden castles preceded stone-built castles such as Loch Doon Castle and date back to the Anglo-Norman period around the late 11th and early 12th century.
The Mote at Dalmellington is in a very good state of preservation. It consists of a flat-topped mound surrounded by a circular ditch. The ditch has suffered slightly from the effects of erosion from the Muck Water and the base has been altered to form a footpath.
Dalmellington Mote has now been officially classed as an Ancient Monument which will aid its preservation.