We visited one of Scotland’s most iconic castles, Culzean Castle (pronounced cul-lean) which sits high on a clifftop near Maybole in South Ayrshire during our recent holiday to Scotland.
The castle was built for David Kennedy (10th Earl of Cassillis) and home to the Kennedy family (which is one of the oldest clans in Scotland) for many generations but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Do note that, if you are a National Trust Member (in England) then you would be able to use your membership card when visiting National Trust for Scotland properties (and vice versa) due to a special arrangement.
The castle is designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century is surrounded by 260ha of conifers and beech, miles of sandy beaches and parkland that is rich with wildlife. Set across three floors, the castle boast of stylish interiors with Robert Adam’s Oval Staircase, a stunning view from Round Drawing Room and The Eisenhower Apartment which was gifted to the US President in 1945 in recognition of his role in the Second World War.
Keep on reading to find out more about Culzean Castle and what we did there on our day out.
Soon as you walk into the castle, you will notice an imposing wall with collections of British military flintlock pistols which is the largest collection in the world.
There are a total of 716 used flintlock pistols and swords on display at the castle, many of them were purchased from the Office of Ordnance at the Tower of London, where they were being decommissioned.
We also spotted JM Barrie’s crocodile that he shot himself and then later preserved and converted into an umbrella and cane stand.
The cliff-top castle is both stunning on the outside as it is in the inside especially the Round Drawing Room on the first floor, where windows on all sides create a panoramic view of the Clyde.
There are guides located in most of the rooms, answering questions we had and explaining a little about the room we were in. There were also information sheets available in the rooms (in various languages) for us to read.
Our children were kept busy exploring each room as they were given a LEGO Explorer Trail. They had to spot up to 16 little LEGO figures located in random locations around each room/floor and mark it on their trail.
Robert Adam’s Oval Staircase was truly eye-catching and stood out as a stunning centrepiece in the castle. If you are wondering…Robert Adam was the most popular house architect of the day and a master of Palladian style. He was called to renovate the Castle and he spent 15 years overseeing the transformation of Culzean into one of the most imposing and fashionable stately homes in Scotland.
As we walked up, we noticed that the top-floor apartment has been dedicated President Eisenhower in recognition of his role during World War II. The very impressive Eisenhower Apartment is now used as luxury accommodation and you could stay there if you wanted to.
The outdoor woodland area is vast and consists of 120 hectares of mixed woodland managed for shelter, production, amenity and wildlife conservation. It also boasts a rich diversity of habitats support a wide range of animal and plant life.
Some of the areas not to be missed include a visit to the Swan Pond, a 5 hectare man-made pond is surrounded by a footpath and is sheltered on three sides by mature woodland. The Deer Park which is home to a small herd of red deer and llamas as well as the Adventure Cove and Wild Woodland, which is a lovely adventure play park for children.
What did we think of Culzean Castle?
If I could describe the castle in just one word, it would be “stunning”. It is no wonder that the Kennedy family have stayed here over generations, as the view from the castle ground is just magnificent. No, it is not the American Kennedy family but the Scottish one who are part of the oldest clans in Scotland.
Entry into the castle was free as we used our National Trust membership card which was accepted in National Trust for Scotland venues so a great day out for our family without breaking the bank.
The whole castle is so well managed, the tour guides were very helpful answering our questions while explaining about each rooms. Home Farm Kitchen and the Swan Pond Café offers guests hot food, cakes and drinks. It was a hot day so our children enjoyed ice-cream while us adults enjoyed a nice cuppa after our walk.
You could easily spend a whole day here as there is just so much to see and do here. Don’t forget to also stop off at the second hand book shop as they have a lovely collection of books for sale. Culzean Castle is well worth a visit if you are heading to Ayrshire for a holiday.
How much are the tickets?
Adult tickets cost £20 while Child tickets cost £12 and a family ticket costs £48.50. Members of National Trust (England) and National Trust for Scotland go FREE. Consession tickets available.
What are their Opening Hours?
Open daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm (Last entry into castle at 4pm)
Where is Culzean Castle?
Culzean Castle is approximately 50 miles south of Glasgow and Glasgow International Airport, 17 miles from Glasgow Prestwick Airport and 100 miles from Edinburgh. There are also railway stations at Ayr and Maybole.
Maybole
South Ayrshire
Ayrshire
KA19 8LE
01655 884455
information@nts.org.uk
FAQ
- 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
- Baby changing, bike racks and buggy access are available
About Culzean Castle
Robert Adam’s cliff-top masterpiece rises above a world of woods, beaches, secret follies and play parks
- Discover 40 buildings and secret follies in this country park, including the magnificent cliff-top castle.
- Don’t miss Robert Adam’s Oval Staircase – the dramatic centrepiece of the castle.
- Explore the woods, beaches, parkland, Swan Pond, deer park and cliffs.
- Admire the enormous collection of flintlock pistols and military swords.
- Run wild in the Adventure Cove and Wild Woodland play areas.
This glorious 260ha estate was once the playground of David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis – a man who was keen to impress with his wealth and status. Opulent to the extreme, the park is planted with conifers and beech, sculpted around miles of sandy coastline dotted with caves, and finished off with a Swan Pond, an ice house, flamboyant formal gardens and fruit-filled glasshouses.
The castle itself is perched on the Ayrshire cliffs, incorporating everything the earl could wish for in his country home. It was designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century and is filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived here.
About National Trust for Scotland
They are an independent charity that protects and shares some of the country’s most precious historic places and natural landscapes on behalf of the people of Scotland. With over 300,000 members they’re also the largest membership organisation in Scotland.
You may also want to read this:
Family Day Out Review: Kelburn Castle, Ayrshire
26 comments
I have never visited Scotland and we have talked about visiting many times, I do love history as does my daughter and this would be a perfect day out for us
Yes it would be the perfect day out indeed
oh wow!!! The place is a must see for sure!!! I am adding it to my bucket list, the castle is gorgeous…So much history…Love it.
So glad you are
Wow Culzean Castle looks magnificent! It’s good to know that National Trust Members can use their membership card to visit, that sounds like a good benefit of having one. It is the perfect day trip for the family.
Agree, what a lovely benefit indeed. It is a castle worth visiting
I would love to see Scotland one day. I love the country, and I love the vibe. Culzean Castle is definitely on my list of places to visit.
How lovely, so glad to hear that
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your review of Culzean Castle in Ayrshire! Your vivid descriptions and personal experiences painted a delightful picture of the family day out. Your attention to detail and engaging writing style make me eager to visit this enchanting destination. Well done!
Thank you so much Monidipa, it means a lot as we wanted to share our experience
The castle must have been lovely to visit. I have to say that staircase is very impressive and beautifully designed. It sounds like they have an enormous collection of pistols. It is good to hear you can get in for free as it seems that would ave a family a considerable amount.
That staircase was just magnificent and the centre of attraction. It is best to join as a member of the National Trust for Scotland or National Trust so the tickets are affordable as you have your membership for a year
This looks like a great stop, It is always fascinating seeing the inside of houses & buildings this old and learning how they lived. If I am ever near this I will stop and visit.
Agree, it is like walking back in time. So much to explore and see
Wow! I’m so amazed at Culzean Castle, Ayrshire. Seems like I will learn so much with this place as I loved history.
Such a stunning place and what a view as well!! The tour guides were super friendly as well
Tickets are super affordable and it looks like an all-day affair for the family! Beautiful day to explore the castle grounds and the gift shop looks like fun too!
Agree, the tickets are reasonably prices and we spent the whole day there as so much to see and do there
So excited to see this here. I’ve been there but don’t really hear a lot of talk about it. Also visited Stirling and Bothwell. Bothwell was falling apart but still so beautiful to me.
Thank you. Those are two places we wish to visit as well as not been there
I wish we had buildings like this here. They are so beautiful and hold so much history.
Scotland is full of amazing castles and history
Wow! We spend a lot of time checking out castles as my partner is such a big fan of history – however we haven’t seen Culzean! Thank you for sharing – it looks like it’s very well maintained.
So glad you have come across it on my blog, Culzean Castle is worth a visit
This looks like such a stunning place, and the grounds look lovely. There’s so much to explore in Scotland that I’d love to go back and experience more x
It certainly was, so much to see in Ayrshire