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The History of Loch Doon
Loch Doon is the largest inland loch in Southern Scotland with spectacular scenery. It is approximately 8 miles in length and 3-4 miles in breadth. It is surrounded by rugged mountains and unspoilt landscape. The "banks and braes of bonnie Doon" were also the inspiration for one of our national bard's poems. On the west shore of the loch stands the remains of Loch Doon Castle. The site of the castle now was not however its original position.
The original castle, dating from the 13th century was situated on a small island on the loch. The castle was moved in the 1930's when a hydro electric scheme was implemented at Loch Doon. This meant that the water levels of the Loch were raised therefore submerging most of the castle. It was decided to move the castle stone by stone to the site that it sits on today. When the level of the loch is low it is still possible to see the top of Castle Island with some of the remaining stones from the castle. There are other islands on the loch which can be seen including Pickmaw Island which was reputedly used as a prison by the keepers of the castle.
Loch Doon was also the proposed site of an Ariel Gunnery School. This project tried to establish an air gunnery school with rail mounted targets which zigzagged down steep hillsides to mime "enemy aircraft" in flight. The project included the construction of an airfield a dam, a hydro-electric scheme, a light railway and several camp sites as well as sewage and water systems and a cinema for 400 people. Work began in September 1916 and was abandoned in January 1918 when it was realised that adverse weather conditions made flying impossible a lot of the time. The wet marshy ground was also unsuitable for use as an airfield. The project wasted £3m (the equivalent to over £100m in today's money) Many interesting things have been found in and around the loch which help piece together the history of Loch Doon including, 9 ancient canoes containing an oak war-club and a battle axe which were discovered in 1826.
Some of the relics can be seen at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. In 1982 a Spitfire was recovered from the bottom of the loch after a 6 year search.
Craigengillan Estate
Craigengillan was first established as an estate in 1580.when it encompassed over 30,000 acres and stretched as far as Carsphairn. The founding family were the McAdams and the estate remained in the family until 1999. The most famous member of the Macadam family was of course John Loudoun Macadam, the road builder who invented the first tar macadam road.
Although there are medieval remains of old farmsteads and enclosures, it was in the 1780's that much of the structure of the man influenced landscape was created. It was then that the earlier part of the mansion was built. It was also at this time that the first of the stone bridges crossing the River Doon was built by French prisoners of war.
In the early 1800's the house was extended - the stable block, Gatehouse and home farmhouse were built and further bridges were constructed. It was also at this time that the formal gardens, icehouse and tunnels were created, The farm carries a flock of 1200 black faced ewes.
Since the 1900's very little has been done to alter the designed landscape.
The result is an almost undisturbed range of woodland, wetland and other natural habitats, recognised for there importance by there designations as SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest).
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