Ayrshire Castle

Just how amazing would it be to stay in an ancient castle for a week! Ayrshire Castle comes with a fascinating history, a fabulous warm atmosphere and an endless list of nods from its glorious past. This exclusive Scottish holiday home at the foot of Law Hill has enjoyed many lives since it was built in the fifteenth century as a wedding gift for Princess Mary, daughter of James II of Scotland and her husband Thomas Boyd, the Earl of Arran. Its colourful history includes life as a court, life as a prison and six hundred years later, life as this one of a kind holiday home for up to fourteen guests. When booking Ayrshire Castle, you will be enjoying a holiday enveloped in stone walls and surrounded by tapestries, ancient relics, stone baths and a lavish atmosphere. The castle is surrounded by lush green lawns and amazing scenery. From its roof you can admire the Forth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran.

From its West Kilbride location, guests can enjoy golf at a number of world-famous courses, enjoy strolls on the Ayrshire coastal shoreline, fish in rivers and lochs or pop into the buzzy cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh on a shopping trip. Bookish guests will be in awe exploring Scotland's literary past in the birthplace of the poet Robert Burns. West Kilbride enjoys some charming craft studios, galleries and some wonderful eateries. Ayrshire enjoys a rich history and heritage with the famous William Wallace and Robert the Bruce having their roots based here. The very first Scottish Parliament was held in Ayr following the Battle of the Bannockburn. Mary Stuart was born at Linlithgow Palace, the daughter of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise.

Ayrshire Castle enjoys a fabulous blend of the medieval and the contemporary. Throughout the castle you will discover majestic four-poster beds, velvet drapes, wood burning stoves and flamboyant tapestries alongside a large television, iPod dock and underfloor heating. As well as modern roll-top baths, you will discover a unique stone one. The castle offers five floors with a spiral stone staircase connecting them all. The ground floor boasts two atmospheric vaulted rooms, one a utility room and the other the first of the six bedrooms. With regal style and plenty of charm, it also offers a one-of-a-kind ensuite bathroom. The first floor is home to the Great Hall and kitchen and the remaining levels are home to the remaining five bedrooms, bathrooms and a sitting room. The staircase continues to the roof level where there is an unusual ‘Caphouse', formally the guard's lookout.

The castle's six bedrooms all enjoy their own personality, all reflecting the character of the castle. The Dungeon bedroom offers a quirky ‘ode to a drawbridge' bed and a stone bathroom. You will think you have gone back in time but still enjoy the luxury of crisp cotton sheets. Above, you will find a four poster on a platform, heavenly surrounded by voile, you will find a heavily carved four poster surrounded by heavy, colourful drapes, you will find a four poster with a beautifully carved headboard and another with a tapestry backdrop. Most of the rooms enjoy a wood burning fire for chilly evenings. Tartan features throughout, another welcome feature. There are five bathrooms in all, some ensuite but all easily accessible to guests.

The Grand Hall and kitchen is absolutely fabulous, so characterful and charming. The kitchen has been fashioned out of what would have been the original cooking chimney at the far end of this magical space. It boasts a four ovened Aga, perfect for hearty breakfasts and delicious feasts. The atmospheric dining space comes next under vintage lighting followed by your attractive living space with its stone chimney, wood burning stove, sofa and chairs.

Ayrshire Castle certainly offers a unique and memorable stay. It is an ideal venue for photo shoots, for intimate weddings, corporate events and family and friends get togethers.

Features

Vault Level/ Ground Floor

• Bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom
• Utility kitchen
  First Floor
• Great hall
• Fully-equipped kitchen
• Cloakroom
  Second Floor
• Bedroom with double bed with access to jack & jill en-suite shower room
• Bedroom with double bed with access to jack & jill en-suite shower room
  Third Floor
• Bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom
• Bedroom with double bed
  Fourth Floor
• Master bedroom suite with double bed and dressing area
• Family bathroom
• Living room with sofa bed (ideal for 2 small children)
  Exterior Grounds
• 1 acre of gardens
  Additional Facilities
• Internet
• TV & DVD
• Washing machine & dryer
• Travel cot & highchair available on request
• Parking for 6 cars

Location

Ayrshire Castle enjoys a fabulous location at the foot of Law Hill in West Kilbride. It is an excellent location for history lovers, golfers and anyone that loves the outdoors and exploring the coast. The roof of the castle offers excellent panoramic views of West Kilbride, Forth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran.

West Kilbride is a small town in north Ayrshire, four miles north east of Ardrossan. It boasts an excellent golf course and a wonderful array of craft shops, studios and galleries, being know as Scotland's first craft town. The Barony Centre is a fabulous exhibition space with a cafe. You can enjoy art and history displays in the West Kilbride Museum on the first floor of the village hall.

This area is a golfer's paradise with courses including the Turnberry Golf Course, Royal Troon Golf Course, Prestwick Golf Course and the local West Kilbride Golf Course. The local course was founded in 1893 with every tee offering players a sea view from the Kyles of Bute to the Heads of Ayr. It boasts 6523 yards of championship golf over eighteen holes together with practice areas including two putting greens, a chipping green, practice bunkers and nets for driving. The course also offers a lounge, restaurant and a professional coach. Visitors are welcome to play by prior arrangement.

Ayr Racecourse is Scotland's premier racecourse and home to the Scottish Grand National and the Ayr Gold Cup. The racecourse is also the venue of some fabulous events such as Gok Wan performing a DJ set and many others taking to the decks following various prestigious races. You should check out the racedays and see if there is one when you are taking your holiday.

Visitors enjoy trips to Clyde Marina at Ardrossan with its clear waters, abundance of wildlife, spectacular scenery and its fabulous local cuisine. There are some fantastic restaurants where you can dine with a view. Adrossan is a historic port town with the marina, sandy beaches and stunning views over the Firth of Clyde. It lies on the north side of Irvine Bay between Irvine and Largs. Shipbuilding was one of Ardrossan's most important industries in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and today it is home of the ferry port to the Isle of Arran. The town's two beaches are perfect for coastal walks with pretty cafes and tearooms. Largs Yacht Haven is a fantastic sailing destination with a bustling, very busy marina.

The mesmerising Loch Lomond is one of the most beautiful and iconic places in Scotland. It lies in the heart of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park where you will be surrounded by charming, characterful villages and rolling countryside. The loch is 190 metres deep with a shoreling of 153 km. You can enjoy a romantic loch-side amble, a vigorous hike, fun watery adventures, a round of golf or you can explore the islands of the loch. There are dedicated cruises, the Loch Lomond Waterbus ferry service or your can hire boats.