Lands of Borland

Lands of Borland is a country estate in East Ayrshire with farm buildings, a walled garden, and gatepiers situated between Aiket Castle and the town of Dunlop near Glazert Water. The property spans several functional areas that reflect its historical importance as a working agricultural estate.

The estate came under Hamilton family control from around 1400 and later passed to the Montgomeries through marriage. A stone fireplace from 1677 marks this transition between the families and documents the shift in ownership.

The estate contains remnants of a formal medicinal herb garden that was once maintained by monks from Kilwinning Abbey, who operated a hospice here for their community. These traces of religious use remain visible in the garden layout and speak to the medieval connection between the monastery and the property.

The main entrance to the estate is accessed via Sandy Ford Lane, which crosses Glazert Water near North Borland and connects to the agricultural facilities. The location is in a rural setting, so visitors should come prepared with appropriate footwear and weather protection.

Archaeological excavations in 1939 uncovered the foundations of the original castle, which stood on elevated ground between Borland Smithy and Borland Mill. This discovery reveals that the property was built on strategically advantageous terrain, with its remains now hidden beneath the modern landscape.