Tinwald Castle is a medieval earthwork motte and bailey fortress but ploughing is making its layout harder to observe. The oval flat-topped motte, which is probably a natural gravel hillock, is being spread out and the mound now slopes upwards on all sides, at a comparatively easy gradient. To the south-east of the motte, an aerial photograph has shown the possible outline of the bailey. 4 miles south-west is Kirkhill Mote and 17 miles north-west is Drumlanrig Castle.