Dirleton Castle

Dirleton Castle is situated two miles west of North Berwick in East Lothian, twenty miles from Edinburgh.

It was built in three main phases, by the successive families who owned it - the de Vaux family, the Haliburtons and the Ruthven family.

Dirleton Castle

John de Vaux was granted the barony of Dirleton by King David I, and his nephew began building the castle in 1220.

Only the donjon, or keep, remains from this first castle.

Steps up to Dirleton Castle

The castle was damaged to prevent its use during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

In 1350 the castle passed to the Haliburton family of North Berwick. They made the original towers taller, and built a new gatehouse.

A large hall and tower house were added in the 15th century, transforming it into one of the finest noble residences of its time in Scotland.

View of the remains of Dirleton Castle from the courtyard

The castle and lordship of Dirleton passed to William Ruthven in 1515. New lodgings were added.

In addition, gardens were laid out in the grounds. These can be explored as you make your way from the entrance to the castle, stopping at the beautiful dovecot of the same period, along the way.

Dirleton Castle

Dirleton Castle is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Visitor details can be found here - https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dirleton-castle/history/

There is a small car park in front of the entrance. When we visited (August 2024), there was no access through the main entrance into the castle. It’s worth checking before visiting if there are any restrictions.

Please watch our video tour at the top of the page which includes further history of the castle.

The Murder Hole at Dirleton Castle