Kelburn Castle, Fairlie, United Kingdom

Kelburn Castle is a large house near Fairlie, North Ayrshire. It is the seat of the Earl of Glasgow. Originally built in the thirteenth century (the original keep forms the core of the house) it was remodelled in the sixteenth century. In 1700 the first Earl made further extensions to the house in a manner not unlike a French château which is virtually how it appears today. In 1977 the house and grounds opened to the public as a country park. It is one of the oldest castles in Scotland and has been continuously inhabited by the same family for longer than any other. The castle is protected as a category A listed building, while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

When it was found in 2007 that the castle's concrete facing would soon need replacing, Lord Glasgow invited four Brazilian graffiti artists to decorate the walls. This was still in place in 2011, when the Earl sought permission from Historic Scotland to keep the graffiti permanently.

References:

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Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Brian Peters (6 months ago)
5£ to park all day. The castle itself can’t be visited but a wark up the glen is a truly magical experience. Take a picnic with you and enjoy the peaceful ambience.

Eilidh Black (7 months ago)
We came here for a day out with the dogs and were impressed by the vast grounds. There is lots to see here - not just your average forest - and much longer walks for the more keen walkers. We completed a nice circular walk with bridges and good paths. The scenery is beautiful. There's parking for £5, free maps, toilets, and a café. There's plenty of unusual outdoor entertainment for the kids too and the graffiti castle goes without saying. Definitely worth a trip!

Carol Capaldi (7 months ago)
This is the most amazing place! The walk up the gully and the art instalation was beautiful and peaceful. The castle is amazing and the setting is superb. Great place for families. Only £5 to park for the day.

Pete Lambie (8 months ago)
Nice grounds & a good walk. Enjoyed it. Turns out the castle is only open to visitors at certain points of the year, with was a shame. But we hadn't planned on going, just drove down for sake of a day out.

M Lawson (10 months ago)
Went for a tour and cream tea. Completely worth the money. The weather helped as part of your is through the grounds and it was a beautiful day. Gorgeous gardens and grounds with lots to do. Castle tour was very interesting by very knowledgeable and passionate tour guide, Addison and lovely fresh cream tea at the end. Word of advice, there is a lot of walking and stairs so not great for infirm or elderly but Addison made time for my mum and didn't rush her. Appreciated it. Worth the money. Worth the visit

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