The castle sits on Dumbarton Rock, a basalt volcanic plug about 240 feet (73 m) high that formed 330 to 340 million years ago. The site has been occupied since the Iron Age, but the article gives no construction date for the castle. Surviving medieval elements include the 14th-century Portcullis Arch.
Lord Fleming fortified the castle in 1570 with stone from demolished churches and houses in Dumbarton and Cardross. A replacement Wallace Tower was built in the 1620s. Most existing structures date from the 18th century, when fortifications were built against Jacobite and French threats. The Governor's House was built for John Kennedy, 8th Earl of Cassilis.
The castle was garrisoned until World War II. The Scottish Government owns it, and Historic Environment Scotland controls it. It is open to the public.
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