Dunure Castle

Dunure Castle is a ruined coastal stronghold located five miles south of Ayr near the village of Dunure in South Ayrshire, Scotland. A property of the Kennedys from the 14th century, the site dates to the late 13th century, with surviving remains from the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle features a keep of irregular shape perched on a precipitous rock with well-preserved basement vaults. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed at the castle in 1563, while a notorious 1570 incident involved the roasting of the commendator of Crossraguel Abbey to force the signing away of abbey lands. By 1694, the castle was wholly ruined; however, the remains have been stabilised and are now accessible to visitors.