The Best Hotels to Book Near Culzean Castle

On the beachfront in the town of Ayr, the Fairfield Hotel puts you a half-hour drive from Culzean Castle. A columned lobby welcomes you, setting the tone of luxury. Big, Victorian-style bay windows reveal a view over the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran in the most opulent rooms, and the top suite features a hand-carved, four-poster bed. Dining is an equally lavish affair with a double AA Rosette-winning restaurant serving local pigeon, Scottish sirloin steak and hand-dived scallops.

There’s no doubt you’re in Scotland as you enter the tartan-clad lobby of the Savoy Park. A sword and shield whispering of the area’s ancient battles sits above a crackling fire in the lounge, and the dark wood-panelled restaurant is brimming with old-world charm. Ascend the grand, oak staircase to find 16 individually designed rooms. Each bedroom either overlooks the racecourse or the pretty garden, and is a contemporary haven of tartan and honey-coloured walls. This place is also dog-friendly.

On the edge of Ayr Racecourse, this pretty hotel offers a little slice of luxury. The rooms in the main house are huge and even the executive double has its own seating area. Families can opt for a family room in the courtyard, and if you really want to live it up, the Ascot Suite has a four-poster bed and slipper bath perfect for honeymooners. Dainty finger sandwiches and scrumptious patisseries attract the crowds for afternoon tea, and you can upgrade to G&T or champagne for a special occasion.

On the Ayrshire coast, 2mi (3km) south of Girvan, the Woodland Bay Hotel is a 20-minute drive from Culzean Castle. You can wander to the quiet beach and watch beautiful sunsets over Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. Rooms in this family-run hotel are spacious and most come with sea views. The real star is the seaside cottage, steps from the beach, with its own hot tub and fully equipped kitchen – but cottage guests can still take advantage of the cooked full breakfast in the morning.

It’s a small and intimate vibe at Southfield Hotel, where just nine guest rooms have been individually designed. In the seaside town of Girvan, it’s a 20-minute drive to Culzean Castle and a five-minute saunter to the soft sand of Girvan Beach. The hotel offers evening meals and big hearty breakfasts for guests, and there are a handful of fish bars and cosy pubs in Girvan too.

A short drive from Prestwick International Airport, the Carlton Hotel sits on the edge of Ayr. Culzean Castle is a half-hour drive away, and you’ve got golf courses and beaches on your doorstep. Inside, the hotel is a vision of sleek modernity, and if you choose the honeymoon suite it comes with a complimentary bottle of champagne and plush, velvet decor. Logan’s Restaurant draws in both locals and hotel guests with a selection of perfectly grilled steaks and hearty burgers served at stylish booths.

Piersland House in Troon is the former country manor of the Johnnie Walker whisky family. The hotel retains its tranquil elegance to this day, as the Tudor-style manor holds luxurious rooms within timber-beamed walls. Superior rooms come with freestanding tubs and a nest of faux-fur blankets on the huge bed. Various upgrades are available, like a bottle of house wine, fluffy robes and artisan chocolates awaiting your arrival. Walker Bar and Restaurant serves traditional Scottish fare and – as you can imagine – the selection of smoky single malts and peaty drams at the bar is exceptional.

By the sea in the historic town of Ayr, this luxurious little hotel makes the most of its perch on the River Doon. A wall of glass runs alongside the river for peaceful views as you dine in the award-winning restaurant. The menu embraces Scottish cuisine, offering a Burns supper all year round and seasonal classics such as beef and haggis pie and cullen skink. There are just five rooms, a mixture of lavishly decorated singles and doubles, so you know the service is going to be exceptional.

Looking out over the Royal Troon Golf Club and across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran, the Marine was purpose-built for seaside getaways in the 1890s. Rooms to suit solo travellers, couples and families are all on offer, and many come with a sea view. Sea views continue in the 1897 Restaurant, which looks out over the 18th hole of the course and serves a menu of classic Scottish dishes – haggis, neeps and tatties, Scottish salmon and local goat’s cheese.