Peel tower ruin

Built in 1550s on an island in Castle Semple loch as a fortified refuge for the Sempill family who owned the estate around the loch. They remained staunch Catholics and supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots and as such had many Protestant enemies whom they plundered. In peacetime the Peel was a pleasureable retreat for the estate owners who then by 1800s had built a large mansion on the north lochside. In the 19thC the loch was reduced greatly in size to accommodate agricultural improvements and the three storey Peel fell into ruin and was joined to the lochside as today. An area to the west/right is now Airds Meadow part of the much visited R.S.P. B. centre.