Scotland holds a treasure trove of history in its many castles, both standing and ruins. Many of these castles were constructed in the 11th and 12th century and Kerelaw Castle is no exception. Unfortunately all that remains of Kerelaw Castle are the ruins.
Stevenston, Scotland is home to Kerelaw Castle, built in the 12th century. The castle has a very turbulent history. First held by the Lockhart’s who were given a land grant, it was passed to the Campbell’s of Loudoun and then to the Cunninghame’s of Kilmaurs. In 1488, while in the Cunninghame’s possession, the castle was burned to the ground as a result of a feud with the Earl of Eglinton. As an act of vengeance, the Cunninghames burned Eglinton Castle.
Rebuilt in the late 15th century, the castle became the home of the Abbot of Kilwinning. Purchased by Sir Thomas Boyd in 1609, it was quickly sold back to the Cunninghame family. The mid-1600 saw the castle sold to John Hamilton and became the Hamilton family’s home until Alexander Hamilton built Kerelaw House in 1787. At that point the castle was abandoned.
After Alexander’s death in 1838, the property that houses the Kerelaw Castle and Kerelaw House was sold to Gavin Fullerton. North Ayrshire Council has taken over ownership of the Kerelaw Castle ruins and it is a fairly notable tourist attraction. If you are a hardy soul, you may want to explore the woodland upstream from the castle. The woods, glen, river, ancient footbridge, and view are well worth the exploration.
Little is left of the Kerelaw Castle ruins. Three walls remain in varying states of decline. Also surviving is the Gothic windows in the south wall. Kerlaw House was purchased from the Campbell family in 1969 by a private company and was demolished. All that remains is the driveway that led up to the house.
This castle has an incredible amount of history that you can soak up while you visit this bit of the past.
Photo Credit: Dreamer84
