Mote of Lochorwart was a 13th century earthwork enclosure fortress, founded by the lairds of Lochorwart. In 1430 King James I, granted Sir William de Borthwick a charter to crenellate and he founded Borthwick Castle on the mote-hill. The stone U-plan keep, is of five storeys with two wings of seven and eight storeys and was originally encased by an irregularly-shaped ditched curtain wall, flanked by round and rectangular towers. In 1650, an eastern artillery bombardment by the troops of Oliver Cromwell made a large cavity in the stonework, destroying the parapet. John, lord Borthwick surrendered the castle on honorable terms and left it abandoned until the late 19th, early 20th century when it was renovated and restored. A modern entrance stands on the site of the original gateway and at the eastern base of the promontory are the remains a wide ditch, with a low outer rampart. 2 miles north-east is Crichton Castle and 4 miles north-west is Dalhousie Castle.