Introduction

Kelburn Castle is located near Largs on the west coast of Scotland, about thirty-three miles west of Glasgow.

This castle is very old, with origins dating back to the 13th century. It is home to the Boyle/ Earl of Glasgow family who have occupied the castle and lands since the 12th century. Over the centuries Kelburn Castle has been embellished and extended, particularly in the 16th century and then again in 1700 with influence of French chateau architecture.

The superb elevated location affords views over the Firth (estuary) of Clyde and islands such as Cumbrae. The grounds include well maintained gardens with waterfalls and gorges.

The site is a visitor attraction affording visitors access to the grounds and gardens together with activities such as pony riding.

Graffiti

By 2007 it had become apparent that the concrete exterior was in need of a facelift. Prior to embarking on this repair project Lord Glasgow invited a group of Brazilian graffiti artists to decorate the walls. The designs proved such a success that approval was sought from the heritage organisation, Historic Environment Scotland to leave the art work in situ.

Geology

The Kelburn grounds are famous for their geology. Below is a video clip of exposed strata dating from 250m- 290m years ago ( Permian Period). At this time desert conditions prevailed resulting in accumulations of red sandstone.

More information

For more information on Scotland’s geology, castles and various aspects of touring Scotland please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4