Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City

Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City

Photo gallery for Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City

Craufurdland Castle in the Ayrshire sunshine
Exterior
The Castle with it's front lawn
The Castle on a moody spring evening
The Castle at night.

Overview of Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City

Reviews
9.6 out of 10 Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Kilmarnock, Scotland
  • Popular LocationDean Castle Country Park8 min drive
  • Popular LocationDean Castle9 min drive
  • Popular LocationRugby Park11 min drive
  • AirportGlasgow (PIK-Prestwick)24 min drive

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bards

1 King Bed

Garret

1 King Bed and 1 Double Futon

King James

1 King Bed

Knights

1 Double Futon and 1 King Bed

Queen mary

1 Double Bed

Wallace Suite

2 King Beds and 2 Double Futons

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bard's Ensuite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 1

Toilet

King James Ensuite

Bathtub · Toilet

Main Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Queen Mary Ensuite

Toilet · Shower only

Wallace ensuite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City

Due to last-minute cancelation by one group - 20% off Christmas and New Year Booking is equivalent to £59.64 per person per night for 7-night stay for 16 people, (plus VRBO fees).

To ensure you get the 20% off the quoted price Email adity@craufurdland.co.uk 

Starting from £22.35 per person per night based on 16 people staying for 7 nights plus VRBO fees.

A discount has been applied for 4 nights stay or more, please enquire about price.!!!
Price per night is listed is for 2 night stay for 16 people.

Craufurdland Castle is one of the oldest in Scotland has been with the Craufurd of Craufurdland for nearly 800 years. Set in 600 acres of stunning Ayrshire countryside surrounded by woodlands. The home of Adity and Simon who live next door.

It's within 20 minutes of Glasgow yet you feel as if you're miles away from anywhere and can enjoy the tranquillity of the Estate with the hustle and bustle of Glasgow a stone's throw away.

The Estate now boasts a beautiful Cafe/ Restaurant, The Laird's Table serving Scottish local seasonal food with a stunning view over the tranquil Loch.

The 6 double bedrooms, all unique and beautiful, the Georgian Drawing room stunning with spectacular views, and steeped in history sleeps up to 16 guests.

Sleeps up to 12 plus 4, (16), 4 of the 6 bedrooms are ensuite. There are 4 large sofabeds in 3 of the 6 bedrooms. The main bathroom serves the other 2 bedrooms.

Please note: NO Stag or Hen Parties.

5 minutes from Jn 8 of the M77, Kilmarnock, Only 20 mins from Glasgow, 60 mins to Edinburgh.

Craufurdland Castle Tower House is one of Scotland’s Oldest Castles but has newly refurbished interior enjoying fantastic views over the Ayrshire Countryside and set within grand and impressive grounds. Towerhouse is located within the tranquillity of the ancient Craufurdland Estate, with the village of Fenwick, and the town of Kilmarnock within a mile of the two Estate gates. A mere 20 mins drive from Scotland’s biggest and most vibrant city, Glasgow, you can enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside in the morning, followed by the vibrant and lively city in the afternoon, with its numerous excellent restaurants, bars, shopping, museums, Art Galleries and every type of recreation and culture.
Craufurdland Estate offers the perfect outdoor space to enjoy the beautiful Scottish countryside with a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, including Highwire obstacle course, Archery and team activities such as crate stacking, walking through the woodlands and fly-fishing.
ENTRANCE and GARDEN
The Towerhouse experience starts as soon as you arrive at the commanding Entrance, flanked by imposing gate pillars, with views down the half-mile tree-lined avenue which leads to the castle. Keep your eyes peeled for the resident Roe Deer which often bound across the drive, and admire ducks, Heron and leaping Trout in the beautiful Craufurdland Loch.
As you reach the end of the avenue, you can wonder at the strange arched shaped ‘Bee Boles’ set in the wall of the Castle’s old Coach house and Stables (now a private house), before driving down to the castle, whose castellations and tower only appears over the tops of the Rhododendrons as you enter the gardens of the Castle. The imposing Gothic Façade of golden sandstone stands looking over the large gravel driveway which leads to the expansive front lawn with the Ha-Ha wall at the end of the lawn separating the grounds from the field beyond.
The entrance to the Tower house sits discreetly to the righthand side of the castle, within the 13th Century Tower, complete with castellation’s, balistraria and machicolation.
HALL
Entering the Hall of the Towerhouse is like stepping back in time, with the beautiful; sandstone Norman Vaulted ceiling, huge Flagstone floor. Pass through the arched door at the end of the hall to access the Kitchen, Dining Room or Main stairs, with the vaulted utility room and WC off to the right of the Hall.

KITCHEN and DINING
The kitchen boasts a modern bright and carefully designed layout. The quirky windows (one Arched, one Rectangular and one ‘dumbbell’ shaped remind one of TV’s Children to show “Playschool”) make a bright room, and with twin hobs, ovens, fridges, dishwashers, toasters, kettles, this is a kitchen set-up to cater for a house full of hungry mouths.
The Dining Room, connected to the kitchen, or accessed from the Hall, has a large Oak Table with Oak Chairs, comfortably seating 16 diners in Baronial Style.

STAIRS
From the Hall, we can also make our way to the Main stairs, a grand stone stair, with bold mahogany Balustrade. The four flights are climb to the first floor, lit by the large pitched roof lantern high on the ceiling above, illuminating the faces of the gallery of Houison Craufurd Ancestors portraits, who watch over this grand stairwell.

KING JAMES ROOM
On the third landing, next to the dignified 12ft portrait of William Houison Craufurd, is the quaint curved corridor which leads to the first of the 6 bedrooms in Towerhouse. As with all of the bedrooms, it is named after a historical connection to the family. The King James Room is a nicely proportioned room on the first floor of the ancient Tower, and as well as the super king-sized bed (or twin at request) and bedroom furniture this room have some surprises. In one of the deeply recessed windows sits a free-standing double end bath, behind one door, guests find the WC, whilst another hides a sink and mirror, and finally, the third window, which now looks into the building, houses a unique sash-window mirror dressing table.
Continuing up the stairs gives access to the main floor of the Towerhouse, were access to the Drawing Room, a further three bedrooms, and the stone spiral stairs are all found.

DRAWING ROOM
The Drawing room is a glorious celebration of Georgian splendour, with 10ft high windows with higher ceiling and decorative cornice. The Large Marble Fireplace dominates one side of the room, with light flooding the room from two other walls. More family portraits amongst other artworks occupy the walls, whilst the room is furnished with sumptuous Sofas and Arms chairs for the houseguests to relax and enjoy their surroundings and each others company, A large Flat-screen TV and DVD player and PS4 are unimposingly placed in one corner of the room, whilst a chest of drawing brims with cards and board-games.

BARD’S ROOM
The first bedroom we encounter from the first-floor landing is the ‘Bard’s Room’ which has a large picture window overlooking the Back-lawn, and the beautiful 1880 Focardi Marble Statue. With a matching set of Mahogany bedroom furniture, this room man can be set-up as Super-king or twin beds. Complete with ensuite bathroom with its own Roof Lantern, this is a spacious and bright room.

WALLACE SUITE
Next room found down the short corridor from the first-floor landing is the Wallace Suite. All guests gasp as they enter this magnificent Gothic vaulted room. With a ceiling which rises the height two and a half stories, this room is hard to describe fully. The front-facing wall is dominated by a glorious set of four gothic stain-glassed windows, 4 metres high apiece, rising from the 2-metre high window sill, and each with hundreds of diamond-shaped panes. The centre wall has a large fire-place whilst opposite in the centre of the room sits a set of antique iron spiral stairs which rises to the mezzanine floor. Either side of the fireplace are the large sofa-bed, whilst under the mezzanine floor is the door into the suites own ensuite bathroom.

QUEEN MARY ROOM
The third room on the first floor never fails to impress guests, the Queen Mary Room (formerly known as the Long Room), has a tall barrel-vaulted ceiling with wonderful thick cornice. Views of the front lawn can be enjoyed from the luxury of the antique four-poster bed, through the intricate, and tall gothic windows. The ensuite bathroom boasts a spacious shower room with underfloor heated tile floor (as in the other bathrooms).

KNIGHTS ROOM
The two final bedrooms are on the upper floors of the old tower and are accessed from the original stone spiral stairs. These two bedrooms share a large bathroom which is adjacent to the Wallace Suite. The first room on the spiral stair is the Knights's room, which is entered through its own wee corridor. The room with a low ceiling, two full-height windows, and numerous doors and cupboards set into its largely hollow walls would have been the original sleeping area for the tower, so is probably one of Scotland’s Oldest bedrooms still in use. It can be arranged with twin or super-king bed, plus the Tartan Sofa bed can be used for a third person/child.
THE GARRET
A further climb of the stone Spiral Stairs leads guests to the top of the ancient tower, and the ‘Garret’(old Scots for a room at the top of a tower). Ducking through the lower doorway, leads one into this ‘Harry Potter’ style room, with exposed roof rafters at in the ceiling, and views of the castellations through the windows. Again this room can offer accommodation for up to three Guests with super-king or twin bed, plus sofa-bed.

Towerhouse offers a unique, quirky castle experience for up to 16 guests, dripping with history, set in wonderful lush lawns, and with commanding views across the Ayrshire Countryside. Whether you want to luxuriate in the grandeur of the castle or imagine yourself battling marauding attackers, Towerhouse will surely be a stay to remember, and probably revisit!

Property manager

Adity Houison Craufurd

Amenities

Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
The property must be left in the state that it was found
No Stag or Hen parties or groups under 30 years of age unless a family group.
For special events such as anniversaries or landmark birthdays please contact us regarding feasibility.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number EA00023P

About the area

Kilmarnock

Located in Kilmarnock, this castle is in a rural area. Dick Institute and The Garage are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Beith Townhouse and Kilwinning Abbey Tower. Travelling with kids? Consider Scottish Maritime Museum and TryKiteSurfing. Sailing and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and mountain biking nearby.

What's nearby

  • Dean Castle Country Park - 8 min drive
  • Dean Castle - 9 min drive
  • The Garage - 10 min drive
  • Rugby Park - 11 min drive
  • Royal Troon Golf Club - 22 min drive

Getting around

  • Kilmaurs Station - 11 min drive
  • Glasgow (PIK-Prestwick) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Wheatsheaf Inn - 11 min drive
  • Cafe Da Vinci - 10 min drive
  • Costa Coffee - 11 min drive
  • Furama Gardens - 10 min drive
  • Kings Arms - 6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Craufurdland Castle - Countryside tranquility only 20 mins from Glasgow City located?

This family-friendly Kilmarnock castle is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Dean Castle, Dean Castle Country Park and Kay Park. Dick Institute is 3.1 mi (5 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Farzan S., Geneva, Switzerland

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unique and scenic venue for a surprise engagement
I selected Craufurdland Castle after an extensive search of castles and other properties in the UK, France, and Italy for a surprise engagement for my then girlfriend together with our families and close friends. Craufurdland presented a unique, well-located (especially among castles), and scenic venue for the surprise proposal. My now fiancée and our guests were suitably impressed by both the historic castle setting and comfortable and singular rooms. We shared a once in a lifetime weekend complete with an impressive and convenient on-site restaurant (The Laird's Table, nested alongside a loch) and outdoor activities like hikes on the property and archery. Throughout the entire process Aditi, our host and property manager, was incredibly patient and helpful as I navigated the complexities of planning a surprise engagement for a part of 12-16 from outside the United Kingdom. I would highly recommend the Craufurdland experience and am very thankful to Aditi and Simon for making this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Paul D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Good if wanna be close to Glasgow
Overall experience was good although it was not clear on the listing that the castle was ‘shared’ and that the owners lived on premise. The place looks good but the surroundings are nothing extraordinary (highway close to the place, parc is not super well maintained etc)
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mrs Anne Warren

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent stay in a real castle!
A fantastic castle with very friendly and helpful hosts next door. The castle is steeped in history and the owner Adity very kindly gave us an interesting tour of the whole castle. I would recommend this as a great place to stay for a family holiday.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Hogmanay family celebration in warm castle
We were delighted with our stay in this fascinating place. Good facilities and steeped in history. Lots to interest all . Easy access to Glasgow, local supermarket, excellent restaurant, walking and cycling trails. Tree top trails were the absolute highlight for all three generations.

10/10 Excellent

Holly p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming Castle, History and Fantastic Host.
This 800 year old castle is impressive. Divided into 2 (Lairds house and the rental). There are 3 levels to this property and plenty room for everyone. Each room is uniquely decorated, most with antique and vintage furniture. The castle was clean and the beds were comfortable. The kitchen was fully stocked with anything you would need to cook your own meals (food not provided, of course), but a market was near the property with just a quick drive. Adity was fantastic, she gave our family a tour of the whole castle, including her residence and explained all the history of her family. The grounds are large and lots of places to explore. Some of our guest even got to experience paranormal activity, which was a welcomed experience as none of the resident ghost are harmful. We had multiple people experience actual sightings, scents and voices along with a chill to the air with each occurrence. We ate at the onsite restaurant Lairds Table, which was a pleasant experience. Our whole family wishes we would have stayed longer. Definitely worth a visit!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

About the host

Hosted by Adity Houison Craufurd

Host profile image
Craufurdland Castle is divided into 2 “apartments”, Simon and I live in the other side with our 2 girls, Indra & Manisha and 2 Pointer dogs, (Whisky & Soda).
Simon had grown up on the estate and loves to see our guests feeling at home and exploring the estate.
What I love the most about living here is you feel you are miles away from anywhere, as the estate is surrounded by trees, but in reality, we are only 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow and less than 5 minutes drive from the nearest supermarket and 10 minutes from the train station.

We now also have a restaurant on the Estate, 5 minutes walk from the castle, overlooking Craufurdland Loch. We serve fresh, quality local Scottish food with a twist. It is open daily 9-5 pm and The evening A La Carte menu changes regularly and is available Friday and Saturday evenings 5-8 pm.

The latest addition on the estate id the Tree Top Trials High wire obstacle course. 3 course suitable for all abilities from the trepid adventure to the hardcore. The explorer experience is suitable for children as young as 5. More details are on www.ttt.scot

Why they chose this property

Craufurdland is special to us as it’s been in Simon’s family for nearly 800 years. Simon proposed to me at Craufurdland Water, one of the rivers that create the boundary for the estate, we also got married here and our children’s naming ceremonies were held in The Drawing Room and The Library.
The estate gives our children the freedom that we had as youngsters to explore, climb trees and get muddy and enjoy and appreciate all that nature has to offer.

What makes this property unique

A Castle experience, a castle built over 500 years steeped in history.
Ideal for family gatherings or special occasions like Silver and Golden Anniversary where you can be the King/Queen of the Castle.
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