Culzean Castle
Culzean castle (pronounced "Cullane") sits perched on a cliff edge overlooking the Firth of Clyde about 15 miles south of Ayr in South West Scotland. Between 1777 and 1792 David Kennedy, the 10th Earl of Cassillis, commissioned the foremost architect of the time, Robert Adam, to convert the family's old rambling tower house into a grand castle. Today it is considered the finest Georgian castle in Scotland.
As we learned recently while touring Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, the young Robert Adam, like many of his contemporaries, embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe. His work upon his return gradually began to show evidence of the Classical and the Romantic influences and over the years evolved into a grand style which incorporated elements from Greek, Roman, Gothic, and even Egyptian architecture. The Circular Saloon at Culzean, with its superb panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde, and the Oval Staircase are acknowledged as Adam's final masterpieces. The castle contains an interesting collection of paintings and furniture, and the display of weapons in the Armoury, the first room one encounters, is truly impressive. The gardens surrounding the castle include the terraced Fountain Court and the Walled Garden with a pleasure garden and reconstructed Victorian Vinery.
Part of the land surrounding Culzean includes what in 1969 became Scotland's first country park, consisting of 228 hectares or 563 acres. We walked along part of the three-mile stretch of coastline, stopping to skip stones and take in the breathtaking views across the Firth, before ascending to the woodland walk to Swan Pond and the children's playground.
The Kennedy family donated the castle to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945 and requested that the top floor be given to General Eisenhower in gratitude for his services during World War II. Eisenhower first came to Culzean in 1946 and visited the castle three additional times. His longest stay was during his retirement. Today the top floor provides exclusive accommodation for visitors.
Date of Our Last Visit: August 2004