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.