Local attractions

The attractions and amenities in the area surrounding Craufurdland Castle are wide and varied. The following is just a sample of activities and places of interest:

Café on the Lochan (opening soon)

Lochan: [Gael., dim. of LOCH n.] In Scotland: a small loch or lake.

The new Café on the Lochan is set within Craufurdland Estate, just a few minutes walk from the Castle. Surrounded by mature trees and overlooking the water it makes for a peaceful and tranquil setting. The Lochan café has been constructed incorporating many environmentally friendly features and using local carbon neutral energy. The high level of insulation makes heating very efficient, and trees from the estate (damaged in high winds) have been used to make the outer cladding.

Inside the café there is room for 40 people to relax in leather sofas or arm chairs at coffee tables, or high back chairs at dining tables. There is a function room for approx 12 people ideal for meetings or social gatherings. The front wall of the building, constructed mostly of glass and affording a panoramic view of the lake and fishermen, gives access to the covered decking area which provides space for approximately twenty chairs. Wi-Fi internet access is available.

Food served in the café is largely drawn from local sources.

Tel: 01560 600 569
Email: lochan@craufurdland.co.uk

Woodland Burial Ground

This idyllic 3 acre site on the Craufurdland Estate at Midland Farm, Fenwick, is quiet and tranquil, surrounded by mature Ash trees and Hawthorn hedgerow. The site includes a pet cemetery.

Craufurdland Fisheries

Craufurdland Fisheries is set on the Lochan and is stocked with rainbow, brown and golden trout. Fishing is available from the bank or on one of the boats on the loch. Facilities include refreshments in the Lochan Café, tackle for sale and tuition, all run by father and son, Bill and Ian Jones, both experienced and enthusiastic fly fishermen.

Prices are:-

• £18 for 8 hours – 4 fish
• £16 for 6 hours – 3 fish
• £12 for 4 hours – 2 fish
• £12 for 8 hours ‘Catch and Release’
• £8 for 4 hours ‘Catch and Release’

* £1 discount available to Juniors and OAP on ‘killing permits’.

For further information and permits, telephone (01560) 600569.

Golf – “the Scottish Game”

Scotland offers a wealth of golfing venues.  Ayrshire and Aran in particular sport a variety of interesting golf. Prestwick – the birthplace of the Open, Royal Troon, Largs, Girvan, Dundonald Links – acknowledged as one of the best new courses, Lamlash, Isle of Aran and Turnberry to name some of the many courses.  July 2010  will see the return of the Open at St. Andrews, an event where every golfer would wish to be.

Whiskey Tours

Distilleries abound throughout Scotland.  Why not take the opportunity to visit and taste a wee dram of  their wonderful malt whiskies.

Loch Doon Castle

Loch Doon or Balloch Castle is an eleven-sided curtain-walled castle designed to defend its original island site at the southern end of Loch Doon. The stonework is outstanding and its beautifully hewn blocks of ashlar have stood the test of time.

The original castle dates from the 13th or 14th centuries, but it is believed that a much earlier settlement was sited on a small island to the south end of Loch Doon. In 1826 nine ancient canoes containing an oak war-club and a battle-axe were discovered nearby and some of the relics can be seen at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. It is believed that portcullis gates, which protected the castle, still lie submerged after being thrown into the loch during an attack on the castle.

There is local legend that Loch Doon Castle gave shelter to Robert the Bruce as he was often in the surrounding district. History later records that the castle was owned by the Kennedy family and was taken from them by William Crauford of Lefnoris in 1511. The castle was destroyed in the reign of James V (1513 – 1542).

The first engineering feat to affect the level of the Loch was about 1760, when the Earl of Cassillis and McAdam of Craigengillan drove tunnels under the Loch to reduce the level of the water by about 14 feet. The land recovered from this project proved to be of little agricultural value.

In the 1930s the level of the Loch was raised in connection with the Galloway Hydro-electric scheme. Castle Island became submerged but the outer shell of the castle was dismantled and re-erected about 1935 on the shore near Craigmulloch Farm, where it can still be seen today. When the level of the Loch is very low it is possible to see the top of Castle island with some of the remaining stones of Loch Doon Castle.

Loch Doon itself has a length of some 5.5 miles and is about 1.5 miles broad at its widest part. It is bounded on the east by a massive wall of hills, the northern end of the Kells Range. To the south lies one of the wildest tracts of country in Britain. There are few residents today around Loch Doon, but as previously indicated there is evidence to suggest that this was not always the case.

Fishing in Loch Doon (by rod and line) is free; trout are plentiful and a rare fish, the char, is found here.

There is an abundance of hills to challenge the experienced hillwalker who should be aware of the great extent of this wild country, the rough terrain, and the remoteness of help should any accident occur.