Tourism

HISTORY & HERITAGE

Castles and Historic Buildings

Dean Castle

The castle and the extensive Country Park which surrounds it, lie towards the north of Kilmarnock.

The earliest part of the fortress is the square Keep, built around 1350 by the Boyd family. In 1316, the Boyds had been given the estate of Kilmarnock by Robert I (the Bruce) as a reward for their support for him during the War of Independence and at the Battle of Bannockburn against Edward II in 1314.

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Loch Doon Castle 

Loch Doon or Balloch Castle is an eleven-sided curtain-walled castle designed to defend its original island site at the southern end of Loch Doon. The stonework is outstanding and its beautifully hewn blocks of ashlar have stood the test of time.

The original castle dates from the 13th or 14th centuries, but it is believed that a much earlier settlement was sited on a small island to the south end of Loch Doon. In 1826 nine ancient canoes containing an oak war-club and a battle-axe were discovered nearby and some of the relics can be seen at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. It is believed that portcullis gates, which protected the castle, still lie submerged after being thrown into the loch during an attack on the castle.

There is local legend that Loch Doon Castle gave shelter to Robert the Bruce as he was often in the surrounding district. History later records that the castle was owned by the Kennedy family and was taken from them by William Crauford of Lefnoris in 1511. The castle was destroyed in the reign of James V (1513 - 1542).

The first engineering feat to affect the level of the Loch was about 1760, when the Earl of Cassillis and McAdam of Craigengillan drove tunnels under the Loch to reduce the level of the water by about 14 feet. The land recovered from this project proved to be of little agricultural value.

In the 1930s the level of the Loch was raised in connection with the Galloway Hydro-electric scheme. Castle Island became submerged but the outer shell of the castle was dismantled and re-erected about 1935 on the shore near Craigmulloch Farm, where it can still be seen today. When the level of the Loch is very low it is possible to se the top of Castle island with some of the remaining stones of Loch Doon Castle.

Loch Doon itself has a length of some 5.5 miles and is about 1.5 miles broad at its widest part. It is bounded on the east by a massive wall of hills, the northern end of the Kells Range. To the south lies one of the wildest tracts of country in Britain. There are few residents today around Loch Doon, but as previously indicated there is evidence to suggest that this was not always the case.

Fishing in Loch Doon (by rod and line) is free; trout are plentiful and a rare fish, the char, is found here.

There is an abundance of hills to challenge the experienced hillwalker who should be aware of the great extent of this wild country, the rough terrain, and the remoteness of help should any accident occur.

Barr Castle, Galston

Barr Castle was built in the 15th century, probably for the Lockhart family. This building, five storeys high with plain walls, was purchased by the Campbells of Cessnock in 1670, and has since been used as a wool store and Masonic hall.

Caprington Castle, Nr. Kilmarnock

Located less than 2 miles from Kilmarnock centre, many generations of Cuninghames have lived here. The earliest parts date from the 15th or 16th centuries. After 1780 however it was remodelled in the Georgian scheme, and again in the 1830's in a baronial style. The Cuninghame family are still in residence.

Carnell Castle, Nr. Craigie

The original late 15th century tower house has been incorporated into a later Scottish baronial style mansion house, but is still visible. The first owners were the Wallaces of Carnell, but the mansion was added in 1843, and further additions have been made since.

Cessnock Castle, Galston

The tower house at Cessnock dates from a very early period, perhaps even from the late 13th century, but some alterations were made after 1578. The 17th century saw further additions such as the circular stair-tower and the octagonal tower. Restored between 1890 and 1900 for the Duke of Portland, the complex was bought in 1945 by Baron de Fresnes and is now in private residential use.

Craufurdland Castle, Nr. Kilmarnock

Estimates of the date of the oldest parts of the castle range from the 14th to the late 16th century, when it was simply a tower house. A wing from 1648 has been identified, but the gothic style frontage is from the early 19th century. The castle is still in private ownership.

Kilmaurs Place

Kilmaurs Place was built in the 17th century as a replacement for Kilmaurs Castle, nothing of which survives today. Previous owners include the 9th Earl of Glencairn and the Montgomeries of Eglinton, but it is now in private hands. It can however still be viewed from the public park in which it lies.

Kingencleugh Castle, Nr. Mauchline

This little known castle was built for the Campbells around 1600. The main block is reduced to it's foundations, but a wing still survives.

Loudoun Castle, Nr. Galston

Loudoun Castle stands about a mile from Galston. It was the ancestral home of the Campbell family of Loudoun. The earliest tower (square with a battlement) dates to either the 12th or 13th century, Around 1811 the castle was redesigned by Archibald Elliott for the Countess of Loudoun, and her husband the Second Earl of Moira. At this time it was one of the grandest mansions in the West of Scotland. The castle - with its 90 rooms and 10,000 volume library - became known as the "Windsor of Scotland". A Yew tree near the south front of the castle is reputed to be over 800 years old. In 1941 fire took hold at the castle and the fabric of the castle was destroyed beyond repair and it was left as a ruin. A popular theme park is currently situated in the grounds surrounding the castle.

Mauchline Castle

This tower was built in the 15th century, not for defensive purposes, but as a monastic residence for Melrose Abbey. During the 17th and 18th centuries, dwelling houses were added adjacent to the tower. It is said that Robert Burns married Jean Armour in the dining room here.

Newmilns Tower

Located in the centre of Newmilns, this tower once had impressive gardens and orchards surrounding it. It was built in the 14th century for Hugo Campbell of Loudoun, but fell into disrepair. There have been recent efforts to preserve the building.

Rowallan Castle, Nr. Kilmaurs

The present castle at Rowallan dates from the beginning of the 20th century, but lies next to the ruins of an early 16th century castle, itself with 13th century fragments. The 16th century building was the home of the Muirs (or Mures), whilst the most recent castle was built for the Corbett family.

Sorn Castle

Dates seem to be uncertain for the earliest parts of Sorn Castle, but the original tower seems to have been of late 14th century origin, or perhaps even earlier. The Castle occupiers an admirable defensive position poised on a cliff above the River Ayr. Around the end of the 15th century, the tower was extended, and the distinctive corbelled parapet was probably added at this time.

Additions on the landward side seem to have been made in 1793 - partly in the Adam style reminiscent of Culzean Castle. The Somervell Family remodelled the castle in the 1860's. William Railton of Kilmarnock submitted a design in 1862, but a scheme by the famous Edinburgh architect of the Baronial style David Bryce was implemented in 1864.

Bryce's entrance front was modified shortly after 1908 to the designs of H.E. Clifford for the new owner Thomas W. McIntyre, who bought Sorn Castle in October of that year. Clifford added a new billiards room wing on the left of the entrance and also remodelled the interiors. A turbine house was added near the castle and the dam was raised in order to produce electricity. Sorn Estate contains several other houses including Cleugh Cottage, Burnside Cottage and Sawmill Cottage.

Terringzean Castle, Nr. Cumnock

Ruins of the castle lie within the grounds of Dumfries House, the oldest parts being dated at about 1400. There are foundations of a possible 13th century hall-house, the entire complex standing on a raised bank and surrounded by defensive ditches.