Cassillis Castle - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Maybole Castle, a former seat of the Earls of Cassillis, dates to 1560 and still remains, although aspects of the castle are viewed as "of concern". The Castle is the oldest inhabited house in the town having been built about the middle of the sixteenth century. It was built in the style of a typical Scottish castle, with square tower and round turrets, and strong enough to protect its occupants from unfriendly neighbours, of whom there were many at that time.

This is a late medeival high single arched bridge crossing the River Doon at the south end of Alloway. It is believed to have been built in the 1400s: until then it had been necessary to cross the river using a ford. As a result a new bridge was built a couple of hundred yards downstream. This opened to traffic in 1816, and today still carries the main road through Alloway south towards Maybole and beyond.

The Burns Monument and Memorial Gardens stand on a sloping site on the north bank of the River Doon overlooking the Brig o' Doon. The Monument and Gardens come under the umbrella of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Operated by the National Trust for Scotland, this magnificent museum is well worth a visit in its own right, and it also brings together all the places associated with Robert Burns in Alloway. These include Brig o' Doon, Auld Kirk Alloway, and Burns Cottage.

The historical Burns Monument stand on a sloping site on the north bank of the River Doon overlooking the Brig o' Doon. The Monument and Gardens come under the umbrella of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. IT was the first memorial built to the memory of the Poet Robert Burns in Ayrshire, and is close to the bank of the River Doon in Alloway. It is situated only half a mile South of the thatched cottage where he was born on 25th January 1759.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers a truly unique encounter with Scotland’s favourite son. Robert Burns is Scotland’s National Bard, and his poetry and songs are known and loved the world over. It is arranged around a 500 sqm exhibition gallery displaying many of the 5,000 artefacts in the Museum’s collection, each one telling in a lively and informative manner about Robert Burns’ life, inspiration, fame and identity.

Alloway Auld Kirk is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Category A listed ruined church, the associated graveyard is Category B listed. The Kirk and graveyard are best known as the setting for Robert Burns’ poem Tam O’Shanter.