Airds Castle
Visitors to the village of Carradale could be forgiven for overlooking Airds Castle altogether. Hidden away in a beautiful spot beyond the golf course, on a small summit above the shoreline, the ruins are now almost overgrown with grass and bracken.
It’s believed that the fortification was once held by the Lord of the Isles until the late 1400s, before falling into the ownership of King James IV of Scotland.
In 1498, the king awarded the castle to Ayrshire landholder Sir Adam Reid of Stairquhite and Barskimming.
By the mid-sixteenth century, however, the lands and castle had changed hands again, becoming part of the barony of Bar, held by the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg.
But those were the days of castle swaps, and by 1605 lands and monument were back in the possession of the Reids of Barskimming.
In 1972 it was designated a scheduled ancient monument . . . and so today, so long as you can find it, Airds Castle is open to everyone.
External Link: https://canmore.org.uk/site/39222/carradale-airds-castle