Castle Rental Details

House of Craigie is a luxurious, Georgian mansion comfortably accommodating 16 guests nestled in private grounds, exuding a unique charm with the year round appeal of a superb indoor heated swimming pool, available as an optional extra, with its glass walls looking out over the beautiful gardens and an all-weather surfaced tennis court.

Wander leisurely in the gardens of the House past extensive herbaceous borders, over lawns and through the kitchen garden.  These wonderful gardens have been opened for charity in past years under the National Gardens Scheme.   Choose your vantage point and enjoy the colourful western skies as the sun sets slowly behind the islands.  In this hill top location in southern Scotland it is almost unheard of for the ubiquitous biting Highland midge to visit! 

Relax in the rural seclusion of this country house knowing that an extra bottle of champagne or forgotten essential is just a 10 minute drive away. 

Our French Chef can rise to any occasion be it an exquisite dinner served in our beautiful dining room or an informal celebration buffet or canapes.  Before dinner pour your champagne stroll through the gardens or chat in the drawing room whilst magic happens in the kitchen!  

Hideaway and relax at the House or sample from the HUGE list of Activities for both adults and children available locally, see list below!

Views are spectacular from the House over rolling fields to the sea and islands of Ailsa Craig, Arran and, further to the west, Jura.  The House is perfectly situated amidst undulating Ayrshire countryside, just 8 miles from the beaches of Troon and Prestwick.

Steeped in history the House is fully equipped and luxuriously furnished as a country home away from home for the 21st Century.  Find the cornerstone with its engraving “8 Apryle 1746”, a matter of days before the Battle of Culloden.  An 18th Century resident of the House even proved worthy of a mention in one of Robert Burns’ poems!

A gentle walk of 0.25 mile along a country road, or over fields on the right of way track, takes you to the quaint Village of Craigie with its historic church. 

The mature trees and two wildlife ponds in the woodland garden create a haven for birdlife, wrens darting through the shrubbery and our resident tawny owls hooting from tree to tree. Those up with the lark may be fortunate enough to see the hares grazing in the paddock or even roe deer.

Rural but not isolated this luxurious country house could not be simpler to find or with better transport links being easily reached by air to Glasgow Prestwick Airport 10 mins or Glasgow International Airport 40 mins or by road on  M77/A77 from city of Glasgow 25 mins.  Train stations can be found in both Kilmarnock and Troon both approx 15 mins and at Troon the ferry terminal disembarks from Northern Ireland. 

Set your own pace at this idyllic country house perfect for a family gathering, celebration or large group at any time of year.   Catering tailored to suit your occasion by arrangement with owner.

Accommodation

The House with 8 double bedrooms comfortably sleeps 16 with the option of adding a cot or temporary infant beds.

On the Ground floor are 4 superb public rooms all with open fires including a formal drawing room; dining room; large family/TV room; a ceilidh/games room with solid wood floor, ideal for a reel or two, and equipped with table tennis, American pool table and a selection of family games; kitchen with 4 oven AGA; laundry room; cloakroom with WC and a rear hall with coded access door to the swimming pool wing which benefits from underfloor heating.

On First floor can be found 4 bedrooms, the Master suite with a super-king sized bed and shower room, wc and whb, double bedroom, 2 twin bedded rooms and a bathroom with shower over bath, wc and whb.

On Second floor there are 4 bedrooms, a king-sized double room and 3 twin rooms plus two bathrooms each with shower over bath, wc and whb.

There are a further 3 separate wc’s and 2 showers at the poolside for showering before swimming.

Pets – dogs only – restricted to family room, kitchen.

Activities

GOLF Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry plus numerous local courses. 
BEACHES at Troon and Prestwick.
Robert BURNS BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM opened January 2011 encompassing Burns’ Cottage, Alloway Auld Kirk, Brig O Doon and the Burns Monument.  Explore Burns Country.
CASTLES Culzean Castle, the National Trust’s flagship, Dean Castle, Dundonald Castle or walk to Craigie Castle.
DAY TRIPS by ferry to the Island of Arran for Brodick Castle or to Rothesay, Island of Bute, for Mount Stuart, a gothic mansion, home to the descendants of the Royal House of Stuart, with flamboyant interiors and 300 acres of gardens. 
FOR CHILDREN (or the young at heart!) all in Ayrshire - Galleon Centre, ice rink, pool, squash, bowling and Dean Castle, playground and pets’ corner both in Kilmarnock; Pirate Petes, Ayr, indoor play centre; Heads of Ayr Farm Park, Alloway, 50 types of animal, indoor/outdoor activity areas; Kelburn Castle Country Centre, Fairlie,  assault course, Secret Forest and Pagoda and Vikingar, Largs for Ayrshire’s Viking history.
MUSEUMS locally the Scottish Maritime Museum, Ayrshire coast at Irvine; the Dick Institute, gallery and museum in Kilmarnock; Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume, Kilwinning, the Masonic Lodge and Museum, Tarbolton, The Lodge of Robert Burns or the museums and galleries of Glasgow with the Burrell Collection and Pollok House in Pollok Country Park just 25 miles distant. 
FLYING private aeroplane and helicopter flights to charter from Prestwick Airport for a bird’s eye view of the county.
WALKING  River Ayr Way Scotland’s first source to sea pathway passes through Ayrshire’s most stunning scenery over 44 miles (66km), can of course be walked in smaller, no less dramatic, sections.  Ayrshire Coastal Path 100 miles along the scenic coast of Ayrshire with the backdrop of Ailsa Craig and Arran.
CYCLING mountain bike trails and the National Cycle Network
FISHING beats on many of Ayrshire’s major rivers available in season, also fly and bait fishing on many stocked trout fisheries, coarse fishing at Eglinton Country Park and sea fishing seasonally from Ayrshire’s ports.
SHOOTING clay pigeon and game shooting can be arranged locally
TREATS at Catrine House Ice Cream Parlour, nr Mauchline delicious ice creams, made from the milk and cream of a herd of pedigree Ayrshire cows.
WOODLAND walk along the River Ayr Way to Ballochmyle Viaduct
built 1846, in its time the World’s largest masonry span arch,   a scene atop the train in the film Mission Impossible filmed here.
GARDENS various open throughout the year under the Gardens Open scheme.
CINEMA in Odeon Multiplex, Kilmarnock
THEATRE/OPERA/BALLET/CONCERT at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock or theatres, concert halls in Glasgow a 30 minute drive
TENNIS on the all weather surfaced court.
SWIMMING in the indoor heated pool.
TABLE TENNIS, POOL or DANCING in the Ceilidh/Games room
FAMILY BOARD GAMES
LASER CLAY SHOOTING at the House by arrangement

Included

Linen and towels.

WiFi broadband access. iPad / iPod docking station. 42” Plasma HD TV, DVD/CD, 5:1 surround system, Freeview channels, LCD TV, DVD/video, 4 oven AGA, American style fridge/freezer, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, washer, dryer.

Energy costs.  The House is centrally heated, the swimming pool wing has underfloor heating, all set according to season.  During the winter months or inclement weather an initial supply of logs is provided for the open fires in the public rooms. Delivery of logs can be ordered prior to arrival.

Optional access to swimming pool is charged at £ 300 per week.  If requested pool is exclusive for House guests mornings to 10.00 am and afternoons from 5.30 pm onwards.  House and cottage guests have access to pool between the hours of 10.00 am and 5.30 pm

Over the Festive Season the House is trimmed for Christmas, a real tree the focal point of Christmas morning, the ceilidh/games room ideal for a reel to welcome in the New Year. 

Cot and temporary infant beds available

Extra refundable cost: Good Housekeeping Deposit £500 (payable to owner)

Local Facilities

Tesco Extra 3.8 miles plus other major supermarkets, Marks and Spencers food shopping and Odeon multiplex in Kilmarnock 10-15 minutes drive.
Local Inn at Village of Craigie 0.25 mile gentle walk.
Ayrshire’s main Accident & Emergency facility is just a 6 mile drive for extra peace of mind