Kelburn Country Centre

Kelburn Castle and Estate is situated between Largs and Farlie.

Kelburn Castle is thought to be one of the oldest castles in Scotland to be continuously inhabited by the same family for such a long time. Orginally their family name was 'De Boyville' but this has now changed to 'Boyle'. Orginally the De Boyville came from Caen in Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066 and the present families ancestries settled in Kelburn estate in 1140.

No-one is certain of the exact date that Kelburn Castle was constructed, but the originally Norman Keep was designed not for comfort but for defence and was probably built in 1200. Today the originally Norman Keep is fully enclosed with the castle that every visitor to the estate sees today; which was completed by Laird Daivd Boyle in 1581. By this time in history the family were was starting to emerge from releative obscurity and were starting to have some sort of influence within their local community. In 1581 the castle could easily be distinguished from more recent parts of the castle by its impressive towers, which were situated at opposite corners.

The family, during the 17th cenutry becasme very rich through ship-building and shipping. During the latter part of the 17th century the family were deeply committed to the public sector. The father of the first Earl of Glasgow; john Boyle was employed by the Customs and Excise; in an attempted to try and cease the smuggling that was occurring on the Ayrshire Coast at the time. John Boyle then when on to become a Crown Commissioner, administering the Bute and later on the Argyll Estates when the families committed crimes against the state.

David Boyle (1666-1733) was a very distinguished Scottish Statesman, among his various appoitnments he was a Privy Councillor and Lord of the Treasury. John Boyle created the title Earl of Glasgow in 1703, which was one of Scotland's last peerages. Maybe he chose this title as he was the High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Rector of Glasgow Unversity. He was also a leading figure of the 'Acts of Union' 1707, which united the the Scottish Parliament to the English Parliament. John Boyle is sometimes charged with being on of the individual's whom was responsible for bribing the then improvished Jabobities from voting with their natural instincts within the Scottish Parliament.

The First Earl of Glasgow was the one to make the most interesting construstions to Kelburn's Castle. He ordered and planned a new mansion to be constructed and joint to the castle that already existed by this point in history, the building would have a much larger new and grander door facing north, which was finished in 1700. The larger house was called 'Kelburn House' and not 'Kelburn Castle' as it was not fashionable to call your home a castle. During the 18th and 19th centuries the family became very considerable landowners.

The family acquired their land through legacies of other branches of the Boyle family or through judicious marriages to noble ladies whom had inherited their own land. In 1869, when the sixth Earl of Glasgow inherited the title; not only did he inherit the Kelburn Estates; he also gained Corshill, Dalry, Fenwick and Stewarton, and estates in Dunbartonshire, Fife, Hawkhead just outside Paisley, Northumberland and a majority of Cumbrae. Cumbrae; is commonly known as Millport, which is situated directly across the water from the kelburn Estate. In addition to what has already been mentioned, the sixth Earl also ran six large fully staffed residences; Crawford Priory in Fife, Hawkhead in Paisley, The Garrison on Cumbrae (He made several additions to this residence), Town houses in Edingburgh and Perth as well as Kelburn.

By 1888, the Boyle family were unfortunate enough to get caught in the religious controversies of the era, especially the Oxford Movement. The sixth Earl of Glasgow had ran into debt and endowing Episcopal Churches all over Scotland, inlcluding the one on Cumbrae and the Cathedral in Perth. By 1888, he owed approximately one million pounds. When Kelburn Estate went to auction, David Boyle of Stewarton, the Sixth Earl of Glasgow's cousin sold his estate near Irvine to raise the capital to buy back Kelburn Estate. All the rest was lost to the family.

Before disaster struck the Sixth Earl had allowed the construction of a Victorian wing, which enclosed one of the towers that had been built in 1581. The 7th, 8th and 9th Earls of Glasgow had spent the majority of their lives at Kelburn, trying to find sufficient resources to keep the castle maintained.

The current Earl of Glasgow, Patrick Boyle is the 10th Earl of Glasgow. Patrick and his wife Isabel in 1977 decided to open the majority of the ground to the public as a country park and introduced new attractions. The castle too is open to the public at specific times of the year for guided tours. The castle is also available for private functions, which need to be booked in advanced. Patrick and his wife are dedicated to the upkeep and maintenance of the castle and the country centre, it is still a large challenge for the family; however it is something that they will never cease in doing.

At Kelburn there are numerous children's activities that will challenge any child. There is an Adventure Course, which will challenge any child as it is made of wooden trails and walkways, ladder ropes and swings and stepping stones. The adventure course is built in an woodland area that has two highwires that cross between two trees. These highwires are fifteen feet from the ground and twenty feet apart. children can not go on this adventure course unless they have adult supervision.

There is a playarea that is called The Stockade which consists of a wooden fort that has a raised walkway, which will take your child to the outer battlements. This playarea will give your child hours of fun, as there is a sandpit, scamble net, slides, swings and a tower that they have to reach to the top by ladders it is totally safe.

Kelburn's most originally feature and is very popular with both adults and children is The Secret Forest . The design is like a secret forest and has mazes of paths, raised walkways that are cut out of wood which goes through the woodland. With this attraction you'll discover such things as a castle that has no entrance, chinese garden, crocodile pool, gingerbread house, maze of a green man and many many more surprises. Rememebr though to take a pencil with you and do the fun quiz that they run for this attraction.

Kelburn also has a Riding School, so why not take the opportunity to treat your little one to a ride on a pony or a horse. If you are planning of doing this activity please note it is best to book this activity a day in advance so you do not disappoint your child. As the day we went to Kelburn it was fully booked.

Kelburn also has a Pets Corner which has numerous chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs anad various other birds. Whilst at the pets corner, why not take advantage of having a look at the Bird's Of Prey centre. In the Bird's of Prey Centre you can get close to the Falcons, Hawks, Owl Chicks and even a barn Owl. When we visited Kelburn Country Centre my three children were lucky enough to be able to hold a Barn Owl. You can get your picture taken with these bird of prey.

But why end the fun there, with these creatures; why not go and watch these birds of prey in their daily flying displays, which is held weather permitting. Trust me this is well worth going to not only do you get the chance to watch these birds fly but my two oldest children Jennifer and Robert were lucky enough to be choosen to join in this display and get to fly the barn owl and Robert not only did the barn owl but he flew a hawk tooo. it is a day all three of my children will never forget. This truly is an experience.

There is numerous attractions at Kelburn for all ages. There is of Course the Castle; centre buildings, which were originally used as Home Farm and once housed the livestock for the estate; today these are used as the information office, cafe, shop and pottery workshop.

There is a Weeping Larch, Montery Pine, a 1000 year old yew tree; a walled garden and children's garden, sundial, museum and pond. On a walktrhough the glen there is a monumenr which was erected in memory of the 3rd Earl of Glasgow.

There is numerous events held throughout the year and it is a popular place with school trips and families alike.