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Cot Castle is a medieval motte situated in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The monument comprises an earthen mound typical of early medieval fortifications, constructed to serve as a defensive stronghold during the period when such structures dominated Scottish frontier settlements. The motte would originally have supported a timber-built tower or palisade on its summit, with an associated bailey providing additional fortified space. This form of castle became prevalent across Scotland following the Norman-influenced feudal expansion of the twelfth century.
The site lies on bedrock of the Clackmannan Group, Westphalian sedimentary rocks that underlie much of central Scotland. These stable geological foundations would have provided solid ground for the substantial earthworks required to construct and maintain the motte. The local stone and clay deposits available in Lanarkshire permitted both the building and modification of such fortifications across generations.
Cot Castle is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM2627, recognising its significance as a surviving example of medieval military architecture. The motte remains a visible landscape feature demonstrating the settlement patterns and defensive strategies of medieval Lanarkshire, contributing to understanding of how authority and territorial control were exercised across the Scottish region during the Middle Ages.
Cot Castle,motte is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2627. View the official record →
Cot Castle is a medieval motte situated in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2627.
Cot Castle,motte dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cot Castle,motte is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM2627.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tweediehall,mound 410m NNE of (2.1 km), Avondale Castle (3.8 km), Burnbrae,barrow 170m NW of (4.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cot Castle,motte's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cot Castle,motte stands on Clackmannan Group, bedrock that formed in the Westphalian. The rock here is sedimentary rock cycles, clackmannan group type.