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Tartraven Castle


Tartraven Castle is thought to have stood on the site of Mid Tartraven farm, although nothing now remains.

Tartraven occupies a prominent position at the end of a high ridge running east from Torphichen, overlooking the surrounding land. It isn’t known exactly when Tartraven Castle was built, as it is unclear if the castle was always on this site, or if it replaced an earlier castle.

The lands of Tartraven were the property of the Melville family as far back as the 12th century, when a Sir Richard de Melville granted some of his land to the chapel of Retrevyn (later Tartraven).

In 1264 a Gregory de Malville granted the right of passage through the lands of Retrevyn to the monks of Newbattle. Gregory’s grandson, John Melville, confirmed the charter of the right of way in 1329.

By the 17th century the lands of Tartraven were owned by the Ross family, at which time their residence was described as a small castle or mansion house.

Little else is known about Tartraven Castle, and while at the beginning of the 19th century it was apparently still possible to see the foundations and part of the gateway, these have now gone, although there may be some dressed stones from the castle incorporated into a farm steading.

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Alternative names for Tartraven Castle

Retrevyn; Tartrewane; Tortrium

Where is Tartraven Castle?

Tartraven Castle is in the parish of Linlithgow and the county of West Lothian.

Grid reference:NT 0045 7264

Lat / long:55.936518,-3.59509

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Tartraven Castle

OS map 349
Falkirk, Cumbernauld & Livingston (Linlithgow, Bathgate & Kilsyth)
OS Explorer map 349


Directions to Tartraven Castle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Tartraven Castle

5°C
max 7°C / min 4°C
13km/h WSW
1015mb
93%
20%
08:09 16:45

Few clouds
Weather observed at Linlithgow at 19:05

References (books)

The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Tartraven Castle

Tartraven Old Castle (possible)

0.7km away

Kipps House

2.1km away

Lochcote Castle

3.1km away

Ochiltree Castle

3.5km away

Deans (site of)

4.4km away

West Port House

4.5km away

Kirkton House (site of)

4.5km away

Carribber Castle

4.6km away

Linlithgow Palace

4.7km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Tartraven Castle

Gormyre standing stone

2.1km away

Castlethorn standing stones

3.0km away

Castlethorn fort

3.0km away

Gala Braes standing stones

3.2km away

Tantallen Hill (possible) (site of) souterrain

5.8km away

Hopetoun Wood standing stone

8.9km away

Huly Hill barrow and standing stones

11.9km away

Lochend standing stone

12.2km away

Kaimes Hill fort

14.0km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Tartraven Castle

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

22.5km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

24.5km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

25.3km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

25.3km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

28.6km away

Blackford Class I symbol stone

38.0km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

41.2km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

41.6km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

41.7km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Tartraven Castle

Borland silver chain

27.1km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

27.2km away

Haddington silver chain

50.9km away

Norrie's Law hoard

53.3km away

Whitlaw silver chain

55.0km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

56.1km away

Traprain Law silver chain

57.8km away

Hoardweel silver chain

79.1km away

Dunnicaer fort

142.8km away
more Pictish sites....

Accommodation near Tartraven Castle

West Port
hotelLinlithgow
4.5km away
Premier Inn Livingston (Bathgate)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
4.6km away
Kaim Park Hotel
hotelBathgate
4.9km away
Macdonald Houstoun House
hotel, restaurant, barUphall
5.0km away
Premier Inn Livingston (M8, Jct3)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
5.0km away
Cairn Hotel, Bathgate
hotelBathgate
5.7km away
Mercure Livingston
hotelLivingston
7.9km away
Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barWhitburn
9.0km away
Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barPolmont
9.8km away
Metro Inns Falkirk
hotelPolmont
9.9km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Tartraven Castle

Premier Inn Livingston (Bathgate)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
4.6km away
Macdonald Houstoun House
hotel, restaurant, barUphall
5.0km away
Premier Inn Livingston (M8, Jct3)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
5.0km away
Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barWhitburn
9.0km away
Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barPolmont
9.8km away
Premier Inn Falkirk East
hotel, restaurantFalkirk
10.4km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
12.9km away
Norton House Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
13.1km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Airport (Newbridge)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
13.6km away
Antonine Hotel
hotel, barFalkirk
13.6km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 12th of June 2011 at 11:25 am. Updated on the 21st of February 2022 at 9:48 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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