CULZEAN MAGIC………..an Ayrshire Castle

Apart from Lighthouses, Scotland’s rugged coast also boast a great collection of Castles.  Most, like the craggy cliffs on which they stand, show the ravages of time and weather plus of course violent defensive action. 

High above the Firth of Clyde on a rocky outcrop on the Ayrshire coast, commanding fine views to  Ailsa Craig on the Irish Sea, stands the magnificent Culzean Castle. There has been a castle on this site since 1300, but that has long gone, as many rebuilds have occurred over the intervening centuries, so from many angles it looks brand spanking new.

Scottish it may be but it has strong American connections.  The Kennedy Family acquired  Culzean in 1569 and it remain in their ownership till 1945 when they donated it to the National Trust for Scotland.  There was one condition that what have become known as the General Eisenhower Apartments remain as a memorial to the General.

Looks can be deceiving, whilst Culzean stands in a strong defensive position on the seaward side, on the landward side, it presents a much softer image of Culzean as a home.

Culzean does look much more like a ‘Stately Home’ which is perhaps not surprising as the Architect and Builder Robert Adam was engaged in the late 1700’s to remodel the Castle. And of course like all stately homes it has formal gardens to match.  Despite it northerly and exposed location Palm Trees and other exotics feature strongly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CULZEAN is Pronounced   Kul- Layn

16th March