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Dunure and Dunure
Castle are 7 miles south of
Ayr,
next to the scenic A719 coastal road,
built in the 1200s for the Kennedy’s.
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The Village is popular for its Kennedy
Park grasslands and Kids Play area,
Shingle Beach and Rocks for exploring,
Coastal Walks, Hill Walk, the Dunure Inn
and a Cafe overlooking the Harbour for
drinks and meals, and the historic
Castle.
Dunure Castle is situated in Kennedy
Park, perched on rocks high above the
sea. The Castle was built in the 1200s
for the Kennedy’s (later Earls of
Cassillis).
Dunure was one of the first seats of
this family that became the largest
landowners in South Ayrshire. Gilbert
Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassillis,
imprisoned the Commendator of Crossraguel Abbey at Dunure
Castle, then roasted him alive to force
him into signing over Abbey lands to
him.
This set of a murderous feud with
relations and friends of the Commendator,
that led to the death of at least 5
men.
The Kennedy's larger castle of Culzean
is 7 miles south, see the Culzean
Castle page for more history and
other Kennedy castles. See also the page
for the Clan Kennedy for more
information.
On the east side of Dunure is the
Carrick Hills, a popular walk from the
Village for great views over Ayr.
The highest hill is Brown Carrick at 941ft, with
great views west over the Islands and
Ireland, north to Ayr, Prestwick, Troon
and Irvine, and east to 2,520ft Shalloch on Minnoch, highest
mountain in Ayrshire.
There is a popular Coastal Walk between Ayr and
Dunure passing Greenan Castle and the
Heads of Ayr Cliffs. Regular buses run
between Ayr and Dunure should you want to
walk one way.
Two miles south of Dunure is Croy
Brae, also known as the Electric
Brae. This section of road looks as if it
is going downhill, but is actually going
uphill.
Explanation is, it is an optical
elusion created by the the way the hills
run down towards the sea.
Many people, on what looks like going
up hill, put their car out of gear so it
can run without power. This has to be
seen to be believed.
The seaside town of Maidens is
8 miles south, Tunberry Golf Resort 9 miles
south, and the seaside town of Girvan 15 miles south.
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