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The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Castles Β· Scottish Lowlands

Culzean Castle

In or near Dailly.

National Trust for ScotlandPaid admissionβ™Ώ Wheelchair: limitedπŸ‘ͺ Family-friendlyβ˜… 4.7 Β· 5,044 Google reviews

Culzean Castle β€” country house incorporating earlier castle and tower house fabric, near Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK.

Culzean Castle, castles in Scottish Lowlands

Wikimedia Commons contributors β€” see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Maybole Β· 6.6 km
  • Paid entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Culzean Castle, the nearest railway station is Maybole, located 6.6 km away. Entry to the castle is paid, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is KA19 8LE.

Directions on Google Maps β†’

Visit on culzeanexperience.org

About

Culzean Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom β€” fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Designed by Robert Adam. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Owned by National Trust for Scotland. Managed by National Trust for Scotland. Wikidata describes it as: "country house incorporating earlier castle and tower house fabric, near Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 55.3546Β°, -4.7893Β°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Culzean Castle ( kul-AYN, see yogh; Scots: Culzean, Culȝean, Colean) is a castle overlooking the Firth of Clyde, near Maybole, Carrick, in South Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa, the chief of Clan Kennedy, but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The clifftop castle lies within the 240 acres (97 ha) Culzean Castle Country Park, which also contains a walled garden, other estate buildings that are open to the public, shops and cafés, and a playground. The castle is open to the public throughout the summer, and the wider estate is open all year. There are eight self-catering properties available for holiday rental within the country park, include the Brewhouse Flat which is located within the castle itself.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Culzean Castle ( kul-AYN, see yogh; Scots: Culzean, Culȝean, Colean) is a castle overlooking the Firth of Clyde, near Maybole, Carrick, in South Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa, the chief of Clan Kennedy, but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The clifftop castle lies within the 240 acres (97 ha) Culzean Castle Country Park, which also contains a walled garden, other estate buildings that are open to the public, shops and cafés, and a playground. The castle is open to the public throughout the summer, and the wider estate is open all year. There are eight self-catering properties available for holiday rental within the country park, include the Brewhouse Flat which is located within the castle itself. The castle can also be hired for private events. From 1972 until 2015, an illustration of the castle was featured on the reverse side of five pound notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

Culzean Castle was constructed as an L-plan castle by order of the 10th Earl of Cassillis. He instructed the architect Robert Adam to rebuild a previous, but more basic, structure into a fine country house to be the seat of his earldom. The castle was built in stages between 1777 and 1792. It incorporates a large drum tower with a circular saloon inside (which overlooks the sea), a grand oval staircase and a suite of well-appointed apartments. The castle was the venue, on 14 November 1817, when the 1st Marquess of Ailsa's daughter, Margaret Radclyffe Livingstone Eyre, married Thomas, Viscount Kynnaird. Margaret would become a noted philanthropist. In 1945, the Kennedy family gave the castle…

Description

The armoury contains a propeller from a plane flown by Leefe Robinson when he shot down a German airship north of London in 1916. To the north of the castle is a bay containing the Gas House, which provided town gas for the castle up until 1940. This group of buildings consists of the gas manager's house (now containing an exhibition on William Murdoch), the Retort House and the remains of the gasometer. There are sea caves beneath the castle which are currently not open generally, but are open for tours throughout the summer. The castle grounds include a walled garden, which is built on the site of the home of a former slave owned by the Kennedy family, Scipio Kennedy.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
55.3546, -4.7893
Postcode
KA19 8LE
Parliamentary constituency
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Established
1777
Nearest railway station
Maybole β€” 6.6 km
Opening
Mo-Su 10:00-17:00

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Culzean Castle Interior (43) - geograph.org.uk - 7159265πŸ“· 5

Caves Β· Scottish Lowlands

Culzean Coves, caves

Culzean Coves, caves β€” a cave broad in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— nts.org.uk
Orangery and Shelter, Terrace Walls, Including Fountain, Fountain Court, Culzean Castle EstateπŸ“· 3

Gardens Β· Scottish Lowlands

Orangery and Shelter, Terrace Walls, Including Fountain, Fountain Court, Culzean Castle Estate

Orangery and Shelter, Terrace Walls, Including Fountain, Fountain Court, Culzean Castle Estate β€” architectural structure in South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK.

πŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— nts.org.uk
Culzean Castle Arch - geograph.org.uk - 4779876πŸ“· 5

Historic bridges Β· Scottish Lowlands

Ruined Arch and Viaduct, Culzean Castle Estate

Ruined Arch and Viaduct, Culzean Castle Estate β€” category A listed building-listed bridge in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•β†— nts.org.uk
Swan Pond, Culzean Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 3630785πŸ“· 5

Natural landmarks Β· Scottish Lowlands

Culzean Bay

Culzean Bay β€” a natural feature in scotland lowlands.

πŸ•
Thomaston CastleπŸ“· 3

Castles Β· Scottish Lowlands

Thomaston Castle

Thomaston Castle β€” castle in South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK.

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New Tower at Entrance to Culzean Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 5630005πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· Scottish Lowlands

Culzean Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Culzean Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site β€” a campsite in scotland lowlands.

Where to eat & stay near Culzean Castle

Places to stay

New Tower at Entrance to Culzean Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 5630005πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· Scottish Lowlands

Culzean Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Culzean Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site β€” a campsite in scotland lowlands.

Ayrshire Coastal Path - geograph.org.uk - 3384883πŸ“· 5

Caravan parks Β· Scottish Lowlands

Old Mill Caravan Park

Old Mill Caravan Park β€” a caravan park in scotland lowlands.

Scottish Water Works - geograph.org.uk - 2827428πŸ“· 5

Caravan parks Β· Scottish Lowlands

Sandy Beach Caravan Park

Sandy Beach Caravan Park β€” a caravan park in scotland lowlands.

β†— headsofayr-caravanpark.co.uk
Scottish Water Works - geograph.org.uk - 2827428πŸ“· 5

Caravan parks Β· Scottish Lowlands

Redgates Holiday Park

Redgates Holiday Park β€” a caravan park in scotland lowlands.

Croyburnfoot Leisure Park - geograph.org.uk - 5726260πŸ“· 5

Caravan parks Β· Scottish Lowlands

Croyburnfoot

Croyburnfoot β€” a caravan park in scotland lowlands.

Farmland near Knoweside - geograph.org.uk - 3074003πŸ“· 5

Caravan parks Β· Scottish Lowlands

Culzean Bay

Culzean Bay β€” a caravan park in scotland lowlands.

Places to eat & drink

Date stone on the McCosh Club, Kirkmichael - geograph.org.uk - 2094837πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· Scottish Lowlands

The White House and Adjoining Joiner's Shop, Kirkmichael Arms, Straiton Road, Kirkmichael

The White House and Adjoining Joiner's Shop, Kirkmichael Arms, Straiton Road, Kirkmichael in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.

Matha' Dickies - geograph.org.uk - 1866405πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· Scottish Lowlands

Railway Tavern, 18 Smith Street, Ayr

Railway Tavern, 18 Smith Street, Ayr in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.

Other works by Robert Adam

Kenwood HouseFlagshipπŸ“· 10

Museums Β· London

Kenwood House

Kenwood House β€” art museum and historic house in Hampstead, London.

FreeGrade Iβ™ΏπŸ‘Άβ†— english-heritage.org.uk
Apsley HouseπŸ“· 5

Galleries Β· London

Apsley House

Apsley House β€” London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington.

FreeGrade Iβ™ΏπŸ‘Ά
Chandos HouseπŸ“· 5

Historic houses Β· London

Chandos House

Chandos House β€” Grade I listed house in Marylebone, London, England, UK.

Grade Iβ™ΏπŸ‘Άβ†— historicengland.org.uk
Lansdowne HouseπŸ“· 5

Historic houses Β· London

Lansdowne House

Lansdowne House β€” house in Berkeley Square, City of Westminster, London, England, UK.

πŸ‘Άβ†— lansdowneclub.com

More places run by National Trust for Scotland

Threave GardensπŸ“· 3

Gardens Β· North West England

Threave Gardens

Threave Gardens is a garden in the United Kingdom.

πŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— nts.org.uk
Angus Folk MuseumπŸ“· 3

Museums Β· Scottish Highlands

Angus Folk Museum

Angus Folk Museum β€” centre for agricultural history and rural life located near Forfar, Angus, Scotland, UK.

β™ΏπŸ‘Άβ†— nts.org.uk
Brodie CastleπŸ“· 3

Castles Β· Scottish Highlands

Brodie Castle

Brodie Castle β€” castle in Moray, Scotland, UK.

πŸ‘Άβ†— nts.org.uk
Castle FraserπŸ“· 5

Castles Β· Scottish Highlands

Castle Fraser

Castle Fraser β€” Z-plan castle in Scotland.

πŸ‘Άβ†— nts.org.uk

More castles in this region

Close up, Elizabeth II postbox on Stichill Road, Ednam - geograph.org.uk - 5010808πŸ“· 4

Castles Β· Scottish Lowlands

Ednam

Ednam in England North East, United Kingdom.

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Ladykirk roadside water fountain - geograph.org.uk - 4505622πŸ“· 5

Castles Β· Scottish Lowlands

Ladykirk

Ladykirk in England North East, United Kingdom.

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Hirsel House, Coldstream - geograph.org.uk - 3059177πŸ“· 4

Castles Β· Scottish Lowlands

The Hirsel

The Hirsel in England North East, United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ‘Άβ†— hirselhomestead.co.uk
Bridge at Earlston - geograph.org.uk - 152449πŸ“· 4

Castles Β· Scottish Lowlands

Rhymer's Tower

Rhymer's Tower in England North East, United Kingdom.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Culzean Castle?
Culzean Castle is in the Scottish Lowlands, United Kingdom (postcode KA19 8LE).
What is Culzean Castle?
Culzean Castle β€” country house incorporating earlier castle and tower house fabric, near Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK.
How do I get to Culzean Castle?
The nearest railway station is Maybole, about 6.6 km away. Drivers can use postcode KA19 8LE.
When was Culzean Castle built?
Built or established in 1777. Designed by Robert Adam.
Who runs Culzean Castle?
Culzean Castle is operated by National Trust for Scotland.
Is Culzean Castle a listed building?
Culzean Castle is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
Does Culzean Castle charge admission?
Culzean Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Culzean Castle?
The nearest railway station is Maybole, about 6.6 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode KA19 8LE.