Kilmaurs Castle, Medieval castle ruins in East Ayrshire, Scotland
Kilmaurs Castle is a medieval fortress whose remains sit on farmland near the Carmel Water river in East Ayrshire. The site preserves stone foundations and scattered building materials that mark where the stronghold once stood.
The fortress served as the main residence of the Earls of Glencairn until the early 17th century, when it was replaced by a new estate house called Kilmaurs Place. This shift reflects how the region's landowning families adapted their homes to changing times.
The ruins hold a place in local memory through stories passed down by residents who grew up exploring the site. These oral traditions connect the community to its medieval past in ways that written records alone cannot capture.
The site lies about a mile southeast of Kilmaurs village and requires walking through farmland to access it. Visitors should expect unpaved ground and ought to respect that the land remains in active agricultural use.
Medieval coins unearthed around the castle grounds provide evidence of significant occupation and economic activity during the 1400s. These discoveries show that the site was continuously inhabited and played an important role in the region's commerce.
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