Public opinion...<BR>How cool is this castle?

The location on the Ayrshire coast is magnificent, the gardens are beautiful, the building and furniture/artwork are really fabulous.<BR><BR>It is one of my favorite places in SW Scotland.

It has an animal preserve and I really think that the deer are trained.<BR><BR>The really special architectural thing about the castle is the rotunda and staircase. <BR><BR>Be warned, it is not an old medieval castle, it is not that old, but it is very, very nice!<BR><BR>US

Aubrey, any particular reason you have posted the same question three times two hours apart? Or is one of the Fodors gremlins at work again?

I'm thinking it's the gremlins <BR>i'm not that desperate!!!

Aubry: i wouldn't travel a long way to see it, but if you are in the area, it is a very pleasant place to see. As noted, it is not vey old, but is in good repair with wonderful grounds and sea views. Eisenhower stayed here during WWII and a part of the tour takes you to his quarters. Be sure to walk out to the swan pond. There are several walks, so you can easily spend a half day here. Right up the road (towards Largs) on your right side is place in the road called the "the electric bar" or something like that (it is well marked). You pull in, put your car in nuetral and watch while the car backs uphill. An optical illusion, of course, but fun. Up the coast a bit further at Dunure, there is an old pub called the Anchorage where the haddock and chips are wonderful as are the sreak and kidney pie. The atmosphere is great. Also in the area are Robert Burns' Cottage (his father's cottage where he spent his early years) and the Brigadoon Bridge in a wonderful setting. A beautiful restaurant at Brigidoon. If you don't eat there, stop and have a drink just to see the interior and the grounds. Walk over the bridge (make a wish). The Chestnut Reastaurant in the area serves very good food and has a very freindly staff; try the salmon in fennel sauce. I actually dictated the ingredients for a scotch old-fashion made the way I like it. The waitress jotted down my instructions verbatem and brought back the drinks. The bartender came back to serve the drinks himself. He wanted to see what crazy American would do this to Scotch. We had a good laugh and a little banter. The waitstaff kept coming to the table to visit all evening (we were there three hours). Great fun!

Another place worth checking out is the ruins of the 13th century Crossraguel Abbey which is only three miles from Culzean Castle. Details atBR><BR>http://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk/crossraguel.html<BR>

Culzean Castle is one of our favorite places in Scotland. It's a National trust for Scotland site (their most-visited one): http://www.nts.org.uk/culzean.html