Passing out of the courtyard through another arch took us towards the castle with tantalising glimpses in the distance. The old stable buildings have been converted into a coffee house - but surely one of the smartest coffee houses you will ever see!
The castle is now in view - in all it's glory! Did you know an illustration of the castle was used on the reverse of five pound notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland?
Culzean Castle sits on the cliff top near Maybole, 11miles south of Ayr. In the 18th Century the architect Robert Adam was instructed to make a basic structure into a fine country house. It was the home of the Clan Kennedy until given to the National trust in 1945. A stipulation at the time was that the apartment at the top of the castle was given to Dwight D. Eisenhower in recognition of his role as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during WW2. He visited 4 times, including once while he was President of the United States. The apartment is now rented out for weddings, events, afternoon teas etc.
Entry to the castle opens up a historical treasure trove...
There are guides to help in each room but you can go at your own pace and spend as long as you want. There are some surprises too! On the day we were there we heard lovely harp music coming from the room we were approaching - only to find it was not just background music but a real harpist!
Out of the window we saw a helicopter starting its rotor blades - and then taking off! Who was in it and where they were going was a mystery but the possibilities were intriguing!
The final room to visit was the kitchen.... where the rules for the house were on display as we entered.
Do you think any of them should be rules for today??
After touring the house it was time to explore - the castle is set in nearly 600 acres so perhaps not all in one day. The swan pond is a 13 acre lake but there are also wonderful gardens and miles of paths as well as walks to the scenic coastline.
Walking back to the bus was quite a slow wander- were we tired or were we subconsciously putting off getting back to the bus?? The thought of an ice cream at the shop ensured everyone kept up and gave us something to look forward to. In our experience something exciting to see on the way back - such as a herd of deer - or an ice-cream at the end of a walk can keep tired legs going!
A great place to wander and explore, there is just too much to see/do in one day.
