Filming & Photoshoot Locations
In 1969 the grounds of Culzean Castle were declared Scotland’s first Country Park. A spectacular example of the ‘designed’ landscape of a great country estate, it covers over 600 acres of woodland, formal gardens and important architecture as well as three miles of varied coastline. This blend of exciting history and a superb natural setting is a major attraction for Culzean’s many visitors.
When the Tower House at Culzean was first built, its immediate surroundings were purely defensive. As Ayrshire became a more peaceful place these were gradually transformed. Sir Archibald Kennedy, Laird of Culzean in the late seventeenth century, laid out gardens (where the Fountain Court is now) which were described as ‘..very pretty gardens and orchards, adorned with excellent tarases (terraces) and the walls loaden with peaches, apricots, cherries, and other fruits…’
Later, when the Castle was being rebuilt, David Kennedy wanted to create an appropriate setting for his new home. He and Robert Adam were much influenced by the fashionable notions of the Picturesque, which held that landscape should be full of curious details, interesting contrast, surprise and enchantment.
In keeping with these ideas, the immediate approach to the Castle was designed as an experience. Visitors descended the hill and caught sight of the castle in the distance with its towers and battlements framed within the ruined archway. Crossing the Viaduct, they passed under another arch and were confronted with a dramatic vista of the sea and sky before arriving at the castle entrance. Adam’s plans for the Viaduct and Ruined Arch were inspired, it is believed, by the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa outside Rome and there is evidence that they were built with materials from the demolished sections of the old tower house.
The Walled Garden with its kitchen and pleasure gardens was first laid out between 1775 and 1786. Bricks were used to line the stone walls in order to retain heat. The kitchen garden was ultra-modern for its time with greenhouses built against the central hollow spine wall, which was heated by flues. A Vinery was constructed to grow grapes indoors. This has been fully restored to its later Victorian splendour.
The well known landscape gardener, Thomas White Senior, a pupil of the famous ‘Capability’ Brown, took over the design of the garden and policies around 1790. In typical White fashion there was a long and theatrical approach from Maybole via Pennyglen Lodge and Hoolity Ha’ and a second equally attractive, entrance route from Kirkoswald via Morriston Lodge and the Cat Gates. There are no less than 40 small architectural features scattered through the vast ground of the Culzean estate. Almost all of them were built in the time of the 1st Marquess, a keen horticulturalist who also oversaw the planting of over five million trees and laid out walkways flanked by rare shrubs.
Over the years, particularly as game rearing became more profitable, the grounds were filled with plantations and game coverts. The 2nd and 3rd Marquesses continued the tradition of large-scale plantings.
From the earliest days of Culzean, each Kennedy generation made its own highly individual contribution until gradually, over the centuries, the policies evolved into the unique landscape of today. Since The National Trust for Scotland took over the stewardship in 1945, it has been very conscious of maintaining this tradition. Public funding has enabled the grounds to be restored to their former glory. But landscaping is a living thing and the work of the Trust in restoring, conserving, planting and opening up forgotten vistas, continues.
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