Dunure Castle
Perched dramatically on a rocky clifftop promontory on the Ayrshire coast, Dunure Castle is one of the most atmospheric and photogenic ruins in the south west of Scotland, and one of those places that genuinely rewards a visit even if you think you’ve seen enough Scottish castles to last a lifetime.
Located about five miles south of Ayr, close to the village of Dunure, the castle stands in ruins on the Carrick coast overlooking the small harbour below. The site dates from the late 13th century, with the remains of the building of 15th and 16th century origin. For several centuries, Dunure was the main fortress of the powerful Kennedy family, the Earls of Cassillis, who once ruled over much of south-western Scotland. Today the Kennedys are much more closely associated with Culzean Castle less than four miles down the coast, but for centuries Dunure was by far the more important of the two.
The castle has a rich and frequently dramatic history. In 1429 a meeting took place at Dunure between representatives of King James I of Scotland and the Lord of the Isles, during which violence broke out and MacDonald was killed. For three days from 4 August 1563, Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Dunure Castle on her royal tour down the west coast, as the guest of Gilbert Kennedy, the 4th Earl of Cassillis. Gilbert was not always so generous a host. In 1569, according to a complaint later made to the Scottish Privy Council, Gilbert had a rival landowner, Alan Stewart, kidnapped and taken to Dunure Castle, where he was roasted over an open fire in the castle kitchens until he agreed to sign over nearby abbey estates. A rescue party eventually arrived and a battle raged between different parts of the castle, causing considerable damage to its structure.
More recently, Dunure found itself on the radar of visitors worldwide when Season 3 of the hugely successful TV series Outlander filmed both at the village harbour and at the castle, with the ruin featuring in the dramatic scene where Young Ian was kidnapped by pirates.
The late medieval beehive-shaped dovecot on the site dates from the 15th century, would have held some 200 nesting boxes, and would have supplied the castle with fresh eggs and meat. Beneath the castle is a cavern called Browney’s Cave, a sally-port with a secret tunnel leading to the castle.
The castle is free to visit and open access, with information boards on site explaining the history and a suggested floorplan of how the castle once looked. The castle stands above a rocky shoreline and is surrounded on its inland side by the attractively grassy Kennedy Park. A short walk from the castle leads down to the small harbour, with a café and pub in the village, both within easy walking distance of the car park. Views west over the Firth of Clyde, to Ailsa Craig and to the peaks of the Isle of Arran, are almost as impressive as the castle itself. Come on a clear day if you can and allow time to simply sit and take in the view.