Stay 
Lockerbie
approx. 7 km
A historic market town beside the River Annan, about 16 km east-north-east of Dumfries, with an ice rink, a golf club and a handful of pubs and cafés.
Photo: StaraBlazkova, public domain
Spedlins Castle: a night in a historic tower house near Lockerbie
Spedlins Castle, also known as Spedlins Tower, is a Category A listed tower house near Lockerbie in Dumfriesshire, built in the 15th century as the seat of the Jardine chiefs. Restored in 1988–89, it is offered today by a private host as a holiday let, with fireplaces, a full kitchen and 3.5 bathrooms, in the quiet valley of the River Annan.
At a glance
- Location
- Templand, near Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, in the valley of the River Annan
- Accommodation
- Holiday let in a Category A listed 15th-century tower house, offered by a private host; full kitchen and 3.5 bathrooms
- Highlights
- Fireplaces, full kitchen, smart TV, dishwasher, laundry and dryer, free Wi-Fi, central heating
- Guest rating
- No reviews on Expedia yet (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in from 4 pm · check-out by 10 am
- Good to know
- Pets allowed (maximum 2) · designated smoking areas · self-catering, no restaurant on site
Staying at Spedlins Castle: a holiday let in a historic tower house
Spedlins Castle is not a hotel but a holiday let: a private host offers the historic tower house for overnight stays, and the listing gives a good idea of the interior. According to Expedia, the bedrooms have fireplaces and a traditional look, with canopy and carved wooden beds, bookshelves and a loft room with bunk beds, and Wi-Fi is available in all rooms.
The house is equipped for self-catering. Expedia lists a full kitchen with hob, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, toaster and kettle, plus cookware, crockery and cutlery. There are 3.5 bathrooms with showers, and bed linen, towels, soap and toilet paper are provided. A smart TV, laundry facilities, a tumble dryer and central heating complete the picture.
Smoking is allowed only in designated areas, and up to two pets are permitted. As it is a private let rather than a hotel, there is no restaurant or reception on site; the nearest pubs, cafés and shops are in Lockerbie, a drive of about ten minutes.
Photos of Spedlins Castle
The history of Spedlins Castle (Spedlins Tower)
- 12th century – An earlier tower on the site is already the seat of the Jardines of Applegarth, according to Wikipedia.
- 14th century – The Jardine chiefs are established at Applegarth on the River Annan.
- 15th century – The present tower house is built over the site of the older tower; it is dated to around 1500 in a Commons photo description.
- 1605 – The tower is extended upwards.
- 17th–19th century – The Jardine chiefs move across the River Annan to Jardine Hall; the sources differ on exactly when.
- 1988–1989 – Spedlins Tower is restored.
- Today – The Category A listed tower house is offered as a holiday let under the name Spedlins Castle.
The tower is a substantial tower house of the Jardines of Applegarth, whose chiefs were established at Applegarth by the 14th century. It stands beside the River Annan, near the hamlet of Templand, and is listed in Category A, the highest grade for Scottish buildings of national importance.
Local tradition links the family’s move to Jardine Hall with a ghost story: according to Wikipedia’s article on Clan Jardine, the family allegedly left to escape the ghost of a miller who had been left to starve in the tower’s dungeon. Such tales add to the atmosphere, but they remain legend.
Facilities and services at Spedlins Castle
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); they apply to this holiday let and may vary from room to room.
Rooms
- Fireplaces in the bedrooms
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms
- Bed linen and towels provided
- 3.5 bathrooms with showers
- Soap and toilet paper
- Smart TV
- Central heating
Kitchen
- Full kitchen
- Hob and oven
- Fridge and microwave
- Dishwasher
- Toaster and kettle
- Cookware, crockery and cutlery
Laundry
- Laundry facilities
- Tumble dryer
House rules
- Pets allowed (maximum 2)
- Smoking only in designated areas
- Private host
- Check-in from 4 pm, check-out by 10 am
Where Spedlins Castle is: Templand, in Annandale
Spedlins Tower stands near Templand in Annandale, Dumfries and Galloway, beside the River Annan and about seven kilometres from Lockerbie. The Annandale Way, a 90-kilometre hiking trail that follows the River Annan, passes close by. According to Expedia, Lockerbie station is about 16 minutes away by car and Carlisle Airport about an hour.
Lochmaben Golf Club, Castle Loch and Lochmaben Castle lie within roughly ten kilometres, as do Lockerbie Golf Club, the Lockerbie Ice Rink and the Dryfesdale Lodge Visitor Centre. Expedia also lists the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, the Dino Park and the Chariots of Fire Carriage Driving Centre among the local attractions.
For longer outings, Dumfries, Caerlaverock Castle, Sweetheart Abbey and Drumlanrig Castle are all within about 30 kilometres, and Gretna Green lies close to the border with England.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from Spedlins Tower)
| Templand (village) | approx. 2 km |
| Millhousebridge (village) | approx. 2 km |
| Applegarthtown (village) | approx. 4 km |
| Lochmaben | approx. 5.5 km |
| Lockerbie | approx. 7 km |
| Dumfries | approx. 17 km |
| Ruthwell Cross | approx. 19 km |
| Caerlaverock Castle | approx. 23 km |
| Drumlanrig Castle | approx. 27 km |
| Gretna Green | approx. 30 km |
Distances are calculated as the crow flies; driving times are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around Spedlins Castle
Dumfries
approx. 17 km
A market town and former royal burgh near the mouth of the River Nith on the Solway Firth, about 40 km from the English border.
Photo: cisko66, CC BY 3.0
Caerlaverock Castle
approx. 23 km
A moated, triangular castle first built in the 13th century, 11 km south of Dumfries on the edge of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve.
Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sweetheart Abbey
approx. 25 km
A Cistercian monastery founded in 1273 in the village of New Abbey, about 13 km south of Dumfries; its ruins can still be seen.
Photo: Hopmans, CC BY-SA 3.0
Drumlanrig Castle
approx. 27 km
A Category A listed castle on the Queensberry Estate, the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry.
Photo: Unknown author (c. 1880), public domain
Gretna Green
approx. 30 km
A village on the Scottish side of the English–Scottish border, famous for its “runaway marriages”, reached from the A74(M).
Photo: Niki Odolphie, CC BY 2.0
Tours & activities near Spedlins Castle
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Ghyll Scrambling Water Adventure in the Lake District
Ghyll Scrambling is hard to describe and impossible to forget! As the Lake Districts most popular outdoor activity, you are guaranteed laughs and …
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Canyoning & Gorge Scrambling - Coniston, Lake District
Church Beck is a 100% wet ghyll - and that is exactly the point. Big jumps, natural rock slides, deep plunge pools and waterfalls you climb rather …
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Prestwick Airport Walking & Car Tours
We are the only walking tour that tells the fantastic story of Prestwick Airfield & the only time you will hear a detailed history of the events that …
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Paddle Boarding on Derwent Water
A relaxing way to explore the most beautiful Lake in the English Lake District, learning some new skills along the way. With a local guide by your …
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Galloway Canyoning Adventure, Murrays Canyon half day
Not sure which canyoning trip to pick, or think a full day might be too much? Our half-day trips are designed just for you! Set in the stunning lower …
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Private Family Bird of Prey Experience in Carlisle
Set in the Cumbrian Countryside, our unique setting gives travellers an insight into local species as well and the importance of falconry to English …
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Rock Climbing Experience By The Beach
Experience a day out Rock Climbing by a stunning beach. Great for all ages and abilities. Sessions up to 2 hours of superb rock climbing, bouldering …
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Full Day Charter
Being out on the water is the best way to experience a vast area as beautiful as the Clyde. Forget about all that goes on inland and immerse your …
View details ›Who is Spedlins Castle for?
History lovers
A Category A listed tower house of the Jardine chiefs, with Caerlaverock Castle, Sweetheart Abbey and Drumlanrig Castle all within about 30 km.
Self-caterers and families
The full kitchen, 3.5 bathrooms, laundry facilities and a loft room with bunk beds suit a group or family cooking for themselves.
Walkers and anglers
The Annandale Way follows the River Annan nearby, and Expedia mentions Castle Loch and the surrounding countryside.
Travellers with pets
Up to two pets are allowed, and the quiet river valley offers plenty of space for walks.
Good to know before booking Spedlins Castle
- This is a holiday let offered by a private host, not a hotel; there is no restaurant or reception on site.
- Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is by 10 am.
- Up to two pets are allowed in total.
- Smoking is permitted only in designated areas.
- There are no reviews on Expedia yet, so there is no guest rating to quote.
- Lockerbie, with pubs, cafés and shops, is about ten minutes away by car; the station is about 16 minutes by car.
Find available dates at Spedlins Castle
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at Spedlins Castle?
Yes. The tower house is offered by a private host as a holiday let and can be booked through Expedia. It is a self-catering property rather than a hotel.
Are pets allowed at Spedlins Castle?
Yes, according to Expedia, pets are allowed, with a maximum of two in total.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is by 10 am.
Is there a kitchen?
Yes. Expedia lists a full kitchen with a hob, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, toaster, kettle, cookware, crockery and cutlery.
How far is Spedlins Castle from Lockerbie?
Lockerbie is about seven kilometres away as the crow flies. According to Expedia, Lockerbie station is about 16 minutes by car.
What is there to see near Spedlins Castle?
Lochmaben Castle, Castle Loch, Lochmaben Golf Club and Lockerbie are within roughly ten kilometres, and Dumfries and Caerlaverock Castle are a longer drive away.
Room photos and available dates are all in the Spedlins Castle listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in a historic Scottish tower house? Check availability and current prices for Spedlins Castle on Expedia.
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