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The first Hunter’s
arrived in Ayrshire towards
the end of the 11th
Century. They were believed
to be experts in hunting
that originated from
Normandy/ Northern
France.
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It is thought the Pele
Tower of Hunterston Castle
(south of Largs
Ayrshire) was built in the
mid-13th Century to serve
as a defence against the
Vikings that had been
attacking the Western Isles
and west coast of Scotland.
The Hunter’s are sure
to have been involved in
the Battle of Largs in 1263
that led to the Vikings
leaving the Scottish
mainland.
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Although the Hunter's
swore allegiance to the
English king Edward I in
1296, as with most other
clans, they would probably
have joined forces with
Bruce when the war for
independence escalated in
the early 1300s.
1374, Robert the
Bruce’s grandson
Robert II (Stuart) granted
William Huntar, 10th Laird,
a charter for the lands of
Ardneil for their support
in battles.
John Huntar, 14th Laird,
died with King James IV at
Flodden in 1513 fighting
the army of King Henry VIII
(Tudor) of England.
Mungo Huntar, 16th
Laird, died at the Battle
of Pinkie (Edinburgh) 1547
whilst fighting for the
young Mary Queen of Scots
against the English intent
on Mary marrying into the
English royalty.
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1799, work to build
Hunterston House next to
the castle began for
Eleanor & Robert
Hunter. The completion of
the house saw the castle
used as servant
quarters.
Hunterston
House.
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Gould Hunter-Weston,
26th Laird, fought at
Lucknow/India in 1857. His
eldest son Aylmer, 27th
Laird, was a respected
General in World War One.
He later became an MP for
North Ayrshire.
Clan Chief, Eleanora,
28th Laird, lost a court
battle to prevent a Nuclear
Power Station being built
on the land of
Hunterston.
The present Clan Chief,
Madam Pauline Hunter of
Hunterston, 30th Laird, has
developed the Clan Hunter
Associations, which with
the aid of the Internet, is
now worldwide.
Hunterston Castle is
still owned by Madam
Pauline Hunter. She
arranges clan hunter
gatherings through the
Clan Website.
Hunterston Castle is open
to the general public one
day each year.
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Other Hunter castles are
Blairquhan Castle that was
completed in 1842 for Sir
David Hunter Blair (son of
a banker and Lord Provost
of Edinburgh). The castle
is set in a 2000-acre
estate 14 miles south of
Ayr near the small village
of Straiton.
The estates castle, lodge,
dower house and six
cottages are now available
for holidays and special
events. Blairquhan Castle
can be visited in summer
months, website www.blairquhan.co.uk.
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 Glenapp
Castle was completed in
1870 for James Hunter
(Deputy Lord Lieutenant of
Ayrshire). The present
owners offer the castle for
5 Star holidays, corporate
events and weddings.
Glenapp Castle is situated
south of the small village
Ballantrae on the southwest
coast of Ayrshire, website
www.glenappcastle.com.
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