Overview
Explore the high-vaulted halls and gloomy prison of this powerful medieval stronghold, perched on a hill above the village. The main tower was built in the 1370s by Robert II – the first monarch of the long Stewart dynasty – to mark his succession to the throne. It stands on the site of at least two earlier castles as well as Bronze Age and Iron Age remains.
What to see and do
- Soak up the views from the hilltop castle – over countryside and towards the Firth of Clyde
- Look for the stones on the west face that proudly display the arms of the Stewarts and the Royal house
- Enter the lower hall, now dark and haunting, but once the scene of grand feasts in the presence of the king
- Get valuable insights into the castle’s distinguished history in the visitor centre run by the Friends of Dundonald
- Explore Dundonald Woodland, one of South Ayrshire’s largest deciduous forests and a Site of Special Scientific Interest
- Take the path from the castle through the woodland to see the ruins of Auchans Castle
- Follow the Smuggler’s Trail from the castle – smuggling was rife in the parish in the 18th century
