Hotels near Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle guards the point where the River Leven joins the River Clyde. Its recorded history reaches back 1,500 years. At that time the place was known as Alt Clut, ‘Rock of the Clyde’. Later it became known by the Gaelic name Dun Breatann, ‘Fortress of the Britons’, from which the name Dumbarton is derived.
In the Middle Ages, Dumbarton Rock became an important royal castle. When it was first built in the 1220s, the Norwegian frontier lay just 10 miles downriver, and Dumbarton served as a Border stronghold. The Battle of Largs in 1263 effectively removed the threat from Norway, but it was soon replaced by an even greater menace from England.
In later centuries, the rock became a formidable garrison fortress, its defences bristling with guns. It last saw military action as recently as the Second World War.
Dumbarton Rock is everything one imagines a mighty Dark-Age stronghold to have been. The volcanic rock rises up almost sheer from the murky waters that swirl around its base, and from its twin peaks – White Tower Crag and the Beak – you can see for miles.
From the 5th century AD until 1018, Dumbarton Rock was the capital of the British kingdom of Strathclyde. Legend tells of Merlin the magician staying at King Riderch’s court there in the 6th century. The Rock was besieged several times, but the Viking assault in 870 was by far the worst. After a four-month siege, Kings Olaf and Ivar of Dublin carried off the slaves and looted treasure in 200 longships.
36 hotels
HOTELS
Location: Dumbarton
Distance: 0.87 miles
Rating: 3*
Prices From: £58.00
Location: Glasgow
Distance: 1.49 miles
Rating: 3*
Prices From: £75.00
Location: Dumbarton
Distance: 1.62 miles
Rating: NOT CLASSIfIED
Prices From: £Call for details.
Location: Bishopton
Distance: 3.23 miles
Rating: 5*
Prices From: £165.00
Location: Glasgow
Distance: 4.43 miles
Rating: 3*
Prices From: £50.00
Location: Balloch
Distance: 4.70 miles
Rating: 3*
Prices From: £75.00
Location: Clydebank
Distance: 5.42 miles
Rating: 4*
Prices From: £79.00
Location: Loch Lomond
Distance: 5.70 miles
Rating: 5*
Prices From: £185.00
Locations near Dumbarton Castle
Attractions near Dumbarton Castle
Events near Dumbarton Castle
If you want to add your hotel to our free south wales hotel listing - simply fill out the form on the following page - Add Your Hotel and a member of staff from the South Wales Hotels team will get back to you.