Culzean Castle

Culzean Castle is a country house and tower house in South Ayrshire, Scotland, standing on volcanic cliffs above the Firth of Clyde. The building contains an oval staircase in the center as well as a circular saloon with large windows looking out over the sea.

Robert Adam designed the residence between 1777 and 1792 for David Kennedy, the 10th Earl of Cassilis, transforming an existing tower house. The Kennedy family gifted the estate to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945, reserving the top floor for General Eisenhower.

The name comes from the Gaelic Cuil na Sean, meaning slope of the cliff, which reflects the exposed position of the estate. The building once served as the ancestral seat of the Kennedy dynasty and still displays their coat of arms and family portraits in several rooms.

Visitors can explore 40 buildings within the 260-hectare estate, which includes woods, beaches, gardens, and play areas for children. There are several walking paths in the park, some of them running along the cliffs with views over the sea.

Beneath the building lie several marine caves, sometimes accessible at low tide and once used as smuggler hideouts. Within the walls there is a large collection of flintlock pistols and military sabers from the 18th century.

Location: South Ayrshire

Location: Kirkoswald

Architects: Robert Adam

Website: https://nts.org.uk/visit/places/culzean

GPS coordinates: 55.35464,-4.78929

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:45