Castle Kennedy & Gardens

Castle Kennedy & Gardens are in southwest Scotland, 4 miles east of Stranraer, 70 miles west of Dumfries, off the A75 road, at the small village named Castle Kennedy, built from 1607 for John Kennedy.

The Gardens with the old Castle are open most of the year for visits with a small entry fee. The tearoom, gardens, 2 lochs, and estate walks are a great way to spend an hour, or even a day. The grounds here were used for a number of scenes in The Wicker Man horror film with Britt Eckland, Christopher Lee, and Edward Woodward. Postcode: DG9 8SJ

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The image top is from the driveway looking across the loch to the new castle from the mid 1800s. This castle is known as Lochinch Castle, in Scottish Baronial style. Lochinch Castle is private, but can be viewed from the estate walks, or booked for weddings.

The image second top is of the bridge just before the car park, a nice scenic area.

The car park and tea room are next to the original Castle Kennedy built in 1607 for John Kennedy, 5th Earl of Cassillis.

The castle passed to James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair in 1677.

His son, John 2nd Viscount Stair, is said to have signed the orders that led to the Glencoe Massacre in 1692.

James Dalrymple, 3rd Earl of Stair, began the construction of the gardens in the early 1700s.

The Castle was gutted by fire in 1716, remaining an impressive ruin to this day.

The Tearoom looks over Castle Kennedy, also next to the walled garden. There are vast landscaped grasslands around the old castle.

The Pond is between Castle Kennedy and Lochinch Castle. You can just see the Lochinch Castle through the gap in the trees where there is a grass walk.

The grass in this area is about 3 inches deep and often wet, so waterproof footwear is advised.

The image of Lochinch Castle is from the walk around the estate. This castle is private, although can be booked for weddings, and there are estate cottages available for holidays.

Lochinch Castle was built in the mid 1800s for John Dalrymple, 10th Earl of Stair. His wife was Louisa de Franquetot, daughter of the 3rd duc de Coigny.

The Castle is presently owned by John David James Dalrymple, 14th Earl of Stair, born in 1961, a politician, now in the House of Lords.

The image right is over one of the lochs named the Black Lock, with the notice board showing the wildlife in the area.

The loch on the other side of the estate with a boat house, is the White Loch.