Carleton Castle is a Category B Listed Building of the 15th-century five-storey tower and barmakin, once held by the Cathcarts of Killochan that stands overlooking the village close to the Games Loup cliffs.
The long abandoned tower ruins still stand, minus the parapet and a collapsed section of wall that has been partly rebuilt at some more recent stage with internal plastering applied that suggests a later use as a dwelling or store.
At the back of the tower pigsties-type ruins survive that were still roofed in the 19th century according to OS maps.
This small tower had only one private apartment reached via a stair from a window in the great hall, the entry to the oblong tower itself being originally via a door at first floor level with a wooden ladder or stair.
The six-foot-thick (1.8 m) wall at the entrance may have had a stair within it that gave access to the cellar, great hall and a probable kitchen level.
In the south-east corner a wheel stair connected the hall to the cellar.
A prominent feature on the side facing the farm is a garderobe or privy shute.

The barmakin or walled courtyard existed with towers at the angles on the area between the two relatively deep glens created by small un-named rivulets.
The castle guarded and controlled a mountain pass as well as the old road Portpatrick road that then ran along the high ground.
The tower had two vaults, one over the great hall and the second over the ground floor.
19th century engravings show that substantially more of the great hall vaulted ceiling survived at that time.
Red sandstone appears to have been selectively used as a decorative feature in the upper vault, window arches, etc.

Blaeu's map of the 1660s shows the castle as intact with a pale or fence on the side of the castle not demarcated by the two deep glens.
A Karltoun Mill and Mains are shown, both probably associated with the Cathcarts as lairds, the mains farm being, as was usually the case, set aside for supplying food to the laird, his family and servants.
John Adair records the castle in his map of 1685.
Herman Moll's map of 1745 records Karleton (sic) and shows the old inland road to Portpatrick running close by.
In 1775 Carlton (sic) is shown, not seemingly as a ruin, with the Portpatrick road now following the coastline.
The 1775 road map by Taylor and Skinner is the first to clearly record the castle as a ruin although still held by a Cathcart baronet.

Carleton is typical of the other Carrick castles such as Dinvin, Dow Hill, Duniewick.
The Cathcarts also held Little Rigend and Camregan castles in East Ayrshire.
Carleton Castle is a Category B Listed Building of the 15th-century five-storey tower and barmakin, once held by the Cathcarts of Killochan that stands overlooking the village close to the Games Loup cliffs. The long abandoned tower ruins still stand, minus the parapet and a collapsed section of wall that has been partly rebuilt at some more recent stage with internal plastering applied that suggests a later use as a dwelling or store. At the back of the tower pigsties-type ruins survive that were still roofed in the 19th century according to OS maps. This small tower had only one private apartment reached via a stair from a window in the great hall, the entry to the oblong tower itself being originally via a door at first floor level with a wooden ladder or stair. The six-foot-thick (1.8 m) wall at the entrance may have had a stair within it that gave access to the cellar, great hall and a probable kitchen level. In the south-east corner a wheel stair connected the hall to the cellar. A prominent feature on the side facing the farm is a garderobe or privy shute. 
The barmakin or walled courtyard existed with towers at the angles on the area between the two relatively deep glens created by small un-named rivulets. The castle guarded and controlled a mountain pass as well as the old road Portpatrick road that then ran along the high ground. The tower had two vaults, one over the great hall and the second over the ground floor. 19th century engravings show that substantially more of the great hall vaulted ceiling survived at that time. Red sandstone appears to have been selectively used as a decorative feature in the upper vault, window arches, etc.
Blaeu's map of the 1660s shows the castle as intact with a pale or fence on the side of the castle not demarcated by the two deep glens. A Karltoun Mill and Mains are shown, both probably associated with the Cathcarts as lairds, the mains farm being, as was usually the case, set aside for supplying food to the laird, his family and servants. John Adair records the castle in his map of 1685. Herman Moll's map of 1745 records Karleton (sic) and shows the old inland road to Portpatrick running close by. In 1775 Carlton (sic) is shown, not seemingly as a ruin, with the Portpatrick road now following the coastline. The 1775 road map by Taylor and Skinner is the first to clearly record the castle as a ruin although still held by a Cathcart baronet.
Carleton is typical of the other Carrick castles such as Dinvin, Dow Hill, Duniewick. The Cathcarts also held Little Rigend and Camregan castles in East Ayrshire.
Carleton Castle