Dalquharran Castle South Ayrshire building, Scottish Robert Adam Architecture, Photo

Dalquharran Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland

Robert Adam building in southwest Scotland, UK – historic property built for David Kennedy

post updated 22 July 2025

All that remains is the masonry shell, sitting on a hill overlooking the Ayrshire village of Dailly.

Design: Robert Adam Architect

building photo © Alastair Cook

Dalquharran Castle Ayrshire

Michael Laird Architects were involved in 2006-07 to help restore this historic Scottish castle in south Ayrshire as part of a new Ritz-Carlton Hotel featuring a new Jack Nicklaus designed golf course.

The old castle and estate were bought in the late 17th century by Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and occupied by his son Thomas Kennedy of Dunure. Kennedy of Kirkhill also bought Dunure Castle and its estate.

Kennedy of Dunure was the husband of Robert Adam’s niece, and Adam designed a new castle for him from around 1781, as a country mansion. Most of the new house was built from around 1785 to 1790.

The new castle is arranged symmetrically around a central entrance hall, with top-lit central spiral staircase similar to Culzean Castle, which Adam designed for David Kennedy from around 1776. The house has four floors, with bedchambers in the two floors. The interior was decorated in a classical style.

Services were located in the basement. A round bastion turret in the south front contains a drawing room on the ground floor, with library above, with views over Girvan Water. A large oval dining room occupies the east wing on the ground floor.

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building image © Alastair Cook