Restored 12th century castle with championship golf course available for exclusive rent

The 12th-century Old Castle of Rowallan has been fully opened to the public for the first time in nearly 70 years and is available for short stays.

The listed building, which was under the care of Historic Scotland until 2015, has been refurbished by owners, the Campbell family.

It’s the first such instance that a building under guardianship has been returned to private ownership.

At the heart of the Rowallan estate, near Kilmaurs in East Ayrshire, it is the ancestral home of the Mures and the Campbells and the finest specimen of Renaissance castle architecture.

Original features remain intact and the Campbells have worked with Historic Scotland for 30 years to ensure a comprehensive, sympathetic restoration that will allow it to have a viable future.

Picture: Airbnb

It is part of the wider Rowallan Castle Estate, which includes a 19-hole world-class gold course designed by Colin Montgomerie, 66 eco-homes and the 19th Century new castle.

Owner Niall Campbell is a builder and property developer and has carried out restorations including the iconic Clyde Rotundas.

Picture: Airbnb

He worked with architects James Simpson and John Sanders of Simpson and Brown to complete the castle restoration.

Picture: Airbnb

The entire building is available to rent via Airbnb, and sleeps up to eight people in four double bedrooms and prices start at £1200 per night.