Ayrshire Castles & Abbeys that can be visited

The Castle can be visited in summer months when not booked for weddings, holidays or film shoots.

The original tower house/castle was built for the McWhirter's, passed to the Kennedy's through marriage, was acquired by the Whiteford's, then sold to Sir David Hunter Blair in 1798. The Hunter Blair's had the new Castellated Mansion built in the 1820s. The Hunter Blair's sold Blairquhan in 2012 to Ganten Scotland.

For information on visiting Blairquhan, visit the website. Do not visit unless booked through the website. The area around Straiton has some of the top hill walking in Ayrshire.
Website . Clan Hunter Page

The Castle and grounds are open all year round from 09.00 till 17.00 with an entrance fee to the castle and park about £15 per adult.

James IV awarded Brodick Castle and the Earldom of Arran to his cousin Lord Hamilton in 1503. The Hamilton's extended the Castle over the centuries. The death of the 12th Duke of Hamilton's daughter in 1953, led to the Castle being taken over by the National Trust for Scotland.KA27 8HY

AS Page . Website . Clan Hamilton Page

The Abbey and the adjacent Kennedy Baltersan Tower have some connections through history. Duncan the Earl of Carrick founded Crossraguel around 1244 after he donated money to monks of Paisly to build the Abbey on this site.

Crossraguel is open to the public from 1st April – 30th September 09.00-18.30 with an entrance fee of about Adult £8.
AS Page . Website . KA19 8HQ

This was the home of the Earls of Cassillis (Kennedy's) until they sold Cassillis House in 2009 to the Confused.com founder Kate Armstrong. The Kennedy's were the largest land owners in the southwest of Scotland since the 1200s, owning other Castles such as Culzean, Dunure, Baltersan, Greenan, Kilhenzie, Maybole, Dalquharran and more. Kennedy Clan Page

To view Cassillis House, you have to drive along the B742 road that leads south of the village of Dalrymple, down on the right hand side, you can see Cassillis House, as seen above, although they have now let the roadside hedge grow high to prevent viewing.
AS Page . Ayr to Dalrymple Map

The park is open all year round with most of the Castle open to the public from 1st April - October 31st 10.30 - 17.00. There are also the Eisenhower apartments in the Castle that are available for holidays.

Prices for entry to the castle & park about £20 per adult. This was the main Castle of the Kennedy Clan for many years, until they gifted the Castle to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945, then moved to their older Castle/House of Cassillis.
AS Page . Website . KA19 8LE

Adam was also redesigning Culzean Castle for David Kennedy at that time. The completion of Dalquharran Castle allowed the Kennedy's to move from the Old Castle that is only 300 yards southeast, next to the River Girvan, bottom left of the image here.

Work to convert this Castle ruin to a Hotel and the Estate into a championship standard Golf Course was expected to begin in the early 2000s, this is unlikely to happen now.

The two Castles at Dalquharran are 16 miles southeast of Ayr next to the small village of Dailly. You can visit the Castles by parking in Dailly then walk through the field in front of the castles (as seen above) then cross the river by footbridge. View an image with windows added in a Photo Editor to show what it may have looked like with windows.
Windows Image . Website

The last owner, Lord Howard de Walden, gifted the Castle and Estate to the people of Kilmarnock in 1975.

Entrance to the Park is free including guided tours of the Castle that are available every day from 12.15 - 16.15 each hour April - September. The Visitor Centre & Children's Corner are open 11.00 - 17.00 summer and 11.00 - 16.00 winter. There are a number of events held in the Park each year such as Classic Car Rallies.
AS Photo Page . Website . KA3 1XB

The Castle is on a hilltop in the centre of the small village of Dundonald.

There is a car park and visitor centre below the Castle that provides information and snacks. The centre and grounds around the Castle are open 10.00-17.00 1st April-31st October. Entry about £9 per adult. KA2 9HD

AS Page . Website .Clan Bruce

Best known as the place the Kennedy's roasted the Commendator of Crossraguel Abbey over a fire, in an attempt to have him sign over Abbey land, setting off a series of murders.

The Castle is on the outskirts of the small village of Dunure, 6 miles south of Ayr on the A719 scenic coastal road free to visit. There is a car park and play area next to the Castle. There is also a traditional Scottish pub and cafe at the harbour for meals or drinks.
AS Page . Website . KA7 4LW

Eglinton estate along with the town of Ardrossan passed from the Eglinton’s to the Montgomery’s though marriage in the 1300s. The Montgomery’s were forced to abandon Eglinton Castle and estate in 1929 after losing all their money building Ardrossan Harbour. The Castle soon fell into disrepair, later used as target practice for Tanks during World War Two.
AS Photo Page . KA12 8TA

A large car park nearby makes this a popular walk along the beach past the Castle towards the heads of Ayr Cliffs free to visit. More information and photos for Greenan can be found at:
AS Page . Walk Page. KA7 4JU

The Castle is run separate from the Country Centre as it is used for holiday accommodation, banquets, weddings and conferences, Castle Tours are availble certain dates through the summer via the website.

The earliest parts of Kelburn Castle are from the 1200s, built by the Boyle's. The Castle has been vastly extended over the centuries, still owned by Boyle's.

There are good views of the Castle from the Country Centre. The Centre is open from April to the September with a small parking charge and a small entrance charge to the Secret Forest.
Website . Clan Boyle . KA29 0BE

The Abbey is often connected to the Knights Templar and the start of the Masonic Lodge.

The Abbey Tower Heritage Centre is open Mid May until Mid September, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm - 3pm. Access for visiting groups outwith these times may be possible. Phone 01294 551 496 for details.

The Abbey, in Kilwinning town centre, can be easily found as it rises high above the surrounding buildings. More history and photos of the abbey can be found at:
AS Page . Website . KA13 6AN

The earliest parts of the Castle were built in the mid 1200s for the MacSweens. In 1262, it was granted by Alexander III to Walter Stewart (Earl of Menteith).

It is believed Robert the Bruce landed at this spot on his return from Ireland in 1306, as he began his successful campaign to become King of Scotland. The Castle was later owned by his grandson when he became King Robert II of Scotland in 1371. The following years saw it used as a Royal Hunting Lodge.

During the 1490s, Lochranza Castle was used as a base from where James IV could attack the MacDonalds (Lords of the Isles). James VI took control of the Castle in 1614, and the English Parliamentarian leader Cromwell took control in the1650s. The last owners, the Hamiltons, acquired the Castle in 1705. Free to visit.
AS Page . Website .KA27 8HL

He then had this Castle at Loch Doon built, with his son being Robert the Bruce that became King of Scotland.

The Castle was originally on a small Island in the middle of Loch Doon. The ruins were rebuilt at the side of the Loch in the 1930s to allow the Loch to be used as a Water Reservoir. To visit this scenic area, take the A713 east of Dalmellington and follow signs for the hill road leading to Loch Doon.
Loch Doon Castle Page . Map

Turnberry Castle Page . Loch Doon

An Amusement Park was opened in the grounds in 1995, becoming one of Ayrshire's top visitor attractions. The Park closed in 2010, it is unclear if it will be used for any other visitor attractions.

The earliest parts of Loudoun Castle were built by the Craufurds in the 1400s. The Castle was extended by the Campbell's in the 1600s, and by Flora Mure-Campbell in the early 1800s.

The Castle was severely damaged by fire in 1941, with all that remains are the walls. The walls are in excellent condition, so the Castle could be restored some time. See 2 photos, the first of what the castle is like today, and the second what it may look like restored.

The Postcode gives reviews and information about visiting now.

Image 1 . Image 2

Clan Campbell Page . KA4 8PE

The main Tower is dated to around 1560 and additions that give its present day look to 1812.

Maybole Castle is now the headquarters of a Community Council training company. The Castle can be visited with a local Heritage Centre in the Castle expected to open soon. There is a car park behind the shops opposite the Castle.
Website . KA19 8YG . Large Image

After Bruce defeated Baliol, he awarded these Lands to his loyal supporters the Boyds of Kilmarnock.

Robert Boyd had this Castle built in the early 1400s to protect and make use of the small Harbour here. There is a scenic seaside car park about one hundred yards from the Castle to allow visits to the Castle that has recently been restored, and the popular walk along the shore. Signposts on the A78 less than one mile north of Seamill direct you to the Castle. Free to visit.
AS Page . Website . KA23 9QA

The earliest parts of this Castle were built in the early 1400s for the Hamilton’s.

Although Sorn is a Sporting Estate most of the year, fishing /shooting, the Castle is open to the public certain days for four weeks each year, normally mid July - mid August 1400 - 1600.

The Castle has recently been made available for Holidays and Weddings. For enquiries phone 01290 551 476.
Website . KA5 6HR

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