Spent a few hours in Ayr walking around the old part – New Bridge which had been coverted from wood into stone in the 15thC; Auld Brig (one of the finest medieval bridges in Scotland that now is just used by pedestrians); Wellington Square and the impressive county offices and Sheriif’s Court; Ayrshire coastal pathway. 

Then off to the picturesque little village of Alloway.

Travelled onto Dunure to see the castle ruins 

and then savoured a delicious fish and chips lunch from the Harbour View Coffee Shop (and the scene of pooch begging for ice-cream, which succeeded).

On the road again to see the exquisite circa 1820 small villa on Kirkmichael Rd neatly built in ashlar.  I could move in tomorrow…..and then visited the delightful Kirkmichael village a few miles down the road.

Just out of Kirkmichael was the private Cloncaird Castle, that we saw when we rounded a bend…wow! It stands on a precipitous slope, originally built during the 16th century, and is described as having been in the style of feudal mansions of that period, with huge square tower, narrow spiral staircase, and other indications of the time to which it belonged. Towards the close of the 16th century it was in the possession of Walter Mure, a scion of the Auchendrane family, and cousin of the unscrupulous Laird of Auchendrane who devised the ‘Ayrshire Tragedy’. This Walter Mure of Cloncaird was the actual perpetrator of the murder of Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean, and was assisted in the execution of his dreadful crime by his boon companion, Kennedy of Drumurchy.

“The horsemen had gathered in the echoing courtyard of grey Cloncaird Castle near Kirkmichael in Ayrshire as darkness was falling on a September night in 1530.

There were more than 60 armed men there, representing the most powerful family in Carrick – the Kennedys. They had come from Blairquhan, Bargany, Cassillis and Guiltree. Their castles sat upon the rising grounds of the wooded vale of Stinchar, they graced the haughs of the Girvan and their walks were washed by the murmuring Doon.

The prospect of a raid against their hated ancient enemies the Crawfords of Kyle, in the neighbouring district, was an opportunity not to be missed.

The River Doon neatly separated the lands of the two feuding clans and raids across it were a frequent occurrence with rival groups splashing across from one side of the picturesque river to the other to save livestock. With these raids followed many a bloody skirmish in which men often lost their lives or were wounded; therefore, revenge and retaliation were frequently foremost in the clansmen’s thoughts.

Patrick Mure, the Laird of Cloncaird was the instigator of this particular “reive”. He was related through marriage to the all powerful Kennedys and had summoned them from all the houses and castles of their Cairn. There were many willing participants eager to share in the excitement of this daring, night-time adventure.

As the moon rose slowly in the starlit sky behind the silhouetted, menacing, black limbs of nearby trees, the horsemen trotted out from the castle. The clatter of hooves was a familiar sound to the villagers tucked up in their beds, listening to the armed band passing through over the cobbled lanes……”  (The Raid on Barbieston by Hugh Maxwell)

Last stop for the day at Crossraguel Abbey, Kirkoswald – Founded by Earl Duncan of Carrick (died 1250) and colonised by monks from the Cluniac abbey at Paisley. The abbey buildings were badly damaged in the wars with England in the early 14thC. The last abbot, William Kennedy, died in 1547, before the Reformation Parliament of 1560 effectively ended monastic life in Scotland.

Tonight, Janice and Frits treated us to a performance at the House from a Scots piper, who played various tunes but also explained the intricacies of the bagpipe instrument and achieving the tones. Hannah and Jasper had a go and discovered how much lung capacity you need to get a sound out!  And the local  cows came to the back fence to listen.