bothwell castle is a large medieval castle in scotland. it is sited on a high, steep bank, above a bend in the river clyde, in south lanarkshire. it is located between uddingston and bothwell, about south-east of glasgow. the castle was built in the 13th century by the ancestors of clan murray. it was built to guard a strategic crossing point of the clyde. bothwell played a key role in scotland's wars of independence. it changed hands several times.