Auchinleck Castle - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

A finest example of an eighteenth century country villa to survive in Scotland. Once diarist James Boswell’s family seat, this grand 18th-century country house has its own grounds, river, ice-house and grotto. The large dining room and its elaborate plasterwork makes any meal special while the library lends itself to conversation and contemplation, just as it did for James Boswell and Dr Johnson.

A beautiful nature feature formed by two rocks, said to have been a hiding place of the Rev A Peden, the noted Covenanter. Traditionally it is said that this cave was used as a hiding place for Covenanters, including the famous Covenanter minister Alexander Peden in the 17th century, mainly during the so called 'Killing Times' of the 1680s

Ballochmyle Viaduct is perhaps Britain's most outstanding masonry arch viaduct, and has one of the world's largest masonry arches. It was built 1846-8 for the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Rly. A splendid 7-arch viaduct with a central span of 181 ft. The viaduct was listed in April 1971 and became a Category A listed structure in January 1989. It was designated a "Historic Civil Engineering Landmark" by the Institution of Civil Engineers.

The remains of the old castle of Kingencleugh or Kingenclough lies close to east of the town of Mauchline, East Ayrshire, in the old Barony of Mauchline off the A76. Kingencleugh Castle is situated 320 metres southwest of Kingencleugh. The castle was abandoned once the new house was built. The Campbells held the property until the end of the 18th century.

The Barony A Frame is a preserved headgear in East Ayrshire, Scotland, located 2 kilometres west of Auchinleck. It was built in 1954 as part of the modernisation of the Barony Colliery, which had been opened in 1907. It is the last remaining example of its type in Britain, and was restored in 2007 by the Barony A Frame Trust. Over £1 million was spent refurbishing the structure, including funding from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The A-frame was reopened by Prince Charles, th

The Lugar Water, or River Lugar, is created by the confluence of the Bellow Water and the Glenmuir Water, just north of Lugar, both of which flow from the hills of the Southern Uplands in Ayrshire. The river flows through the small mining village of Lugar, where at Bellow Mill, William Murdoch, the inventor of gas lighting was born in 1784. A cave where he carried out a lot of his experiments can still be seen on the riverbank.