Kelburn Castle (also known as Kelburne Castle)

The following is from the Historic Environment Scotland Gardens and Designed Landscapes Inventory. For the most up-to-date Inventory entry, please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website:

Location and Setting

Kelburn lies in an attractive valley on the west coast of Scotland just south of the town of Largs. The hills rise steeply behind the policies to the moorland blocks above; these are sharply bisected by the Kel Burn which, in just under three miles, descends from around 1300' (400m) to sea level with several waterfalls along its short length. The lower one was recorded as being of some 50' in height in 1882 but the burn has cut back through the bedrock to form a narrow gorge and the height of this lower waterfall today is about 20'. The Castle is set on the north bank of the burn and has outstanding views to the Firth of Clyde, Arran and the Cumbrae islands.

The designed landscape at Kelburn is bounded by the A78 to the west and enclosed by the woodland plantations to the north and south which extend up to the top of Kelburn Glen. Roy's map of 1750 shows earlier plantations in square blocks, but not as extensive as the plantations today. These were put in from the 18th century onwards, the commercial softwood planting being undertaken by the 8th Earl from 1906. Within the gardens the layout has remained basically the same since 1700 when the main wing was added to the original tower house and a walled garden was enclosed. The stables and other estate offices are also thought to date from this time. The coastal setting has been used for the designed landscape, which focuses on the views to the west. The designed landscape covers some 772 acres (312ha) today.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

The Castle is listed A; the tower erected by John Boyle bears the date 1581, together with his initials and those of his wife Marion Crawford, above the original north entrance. In 1885 it was noted as having 'the only ancient metallic termination to the turret' in Scotland. The mansion wing was added in 1692 and the North-East Wing in 1879. The Stables are thought to date from the mid-18th century and were renovated in 1979; they are listed B, as are the cartshed and cottages to the north-west of the Castle. There are two sundials which are listed A: one in the kitchen garden and one, dated 1707, by the Children's Garden to the west of the castle. The West Lodge is listed B and is Baronial in style, while the former lodge, cut off from the main drive by the advent of the railway in 1885, is derelict and listed C(S). The gate piers to the north drive are listed C(S), while those on the south drive are listed B. Kelburn Bridge is listed C(S). Designed by Robert Adam, the Monument to the 3rd Earl, 'virtue lamenting the loss of one of her favourite sons', is sited on the north side of the Kel Burn and is listed A. There is also a late 19th century rustic-style garden house north of the kitchen garden.

Paths and Walks

There are several woodland walks and trails which are described in leaflets available to visitors giving approximate walking times and distances. The north glen and south glen paths enable walks up the Kel Burn. Not far from the Castle is the Great Waterfall Pool where the Burn falls some 20' into a deep pool at the end of a narrow gorge carved out by the river itself. The waterfall has receded upstream by many feet in the present Earl's lifetime and has carved the gorge down through the softer rocks along its path. The monument to the 3rd Earl is also visible from the glen walks. The upper estate road provides a longer distance walk with extensive views to the west. The Countess's walk provides a more gentle-sloped approach to the upper estate road and gives spectacular views across the Firth.

Parkland

There are still many fine specimen trees within the parkland, which is grazed. The northern area of the park is a golf course and was part of the estate until 1982. The western strip of the park and the main lodge were cut off from the rest of the estate by the railway in 1885.

Woodland

There are some 500 acres of woodland within the estate; the hillsides are planted with both coniferous plantations and deciduous woodlands, while Kelburn Glen is mainly deciduous woodland. There is quite a wide variety of species within the woodlands and they are scenically very significant. Many trees were lost during the 1968 gales. Many of the beech trees planted in the 3rd Earl's time are coming to the end of their life.

The Gardens

The Plaisance' originated between 1760-80; it consists of a walled and terraced area to the north and west of the castle and contains some very interesting tree and shrub species. A list of the specimen trees is given in the 'Trees at Kelburn' booklet. Amongst the more striking are the 'weeping larch' and the 'oldest and tallest' Monterey pine in Scotland. Alan Mitchell has measured the specimen trees at Kelburn, some of which are shown to be about ten years old or less in a photograph dated 1869. There are species Rhododendrons amongst the shrubbery plants.

The New Zealand Garden was designed by the 7th Countess on their return from New Zealand after the 7th Earl's term as Governor there, and contains many species from the southern hemisphere. It is currently in the process of being redesigned.

The only formal garden remaining at Kelburn is the Children's Garden on the west lawn below the Castle from which it is overlooked; it is laid out with herbs within evergreen hedge enclosures. It was designed in c.1760 during the 3rd Earl's time and each corner contains the initials of one of his four children. The 1707 sundial is on the west lawn next to the Children's Garden.

To the north of the mansion wing is an enclosed area into which the drive turns and runs up to the front door. The bowling green was within this enclosure on the east side of the drive. Photographs and paintings at various dates since 1700, when the walls were built, show hedges at various heights surrounding the outside of the garden and also edging the drive.

Walled Garden

The kitchen garden is to the north-west of the Castle by the north office court. The second sundial is sited here. The area is not totally maintained today, although some vegetables are still grown.