Activities
Enjoying the great outdoors
Killochan Castle is set on the estate which is covers 143 acres of land, with inviting forests, the beautiful River Girvan fed by smaller streams and landscaped gardens. The castle has full rights for fishing and hunting which can all be arranged for our guests.
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Mountain Biking / eBiking
The estate has a network of trails winding along the River Girvan, taking you through gorgeous woodlands and through a sheep pasture. We have fifteen mountain bikes (and helmets) on the estate for the use of our guests. Seven of our mountain bikes are E-mountain bikes which means you have an internal battery which gives power assistance when needed on the uphill grades.
Aside from the bikes we provide and the many trails on our property there is also a great selection of publicly available trails nearby – https://www.alltrails.com/scotland/south-ayrshire/girvan/mountain-biking
For bike hires we suggest Biosphere Bikes
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In the saddle
No escape to the country would be complete without an equestrian element.
Killochan Castle can organise your experience at the Equestrian Centre which caters for riders of all ages and abilities, so whether you fancy a private lesson or a trek across the country, the staff at the Equestrian Centre can arrange this for you – https://ayrshireequitationcentre.co.uk
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Fishing
We offer excellent fishing right on our castle property. The River Girvan flows right through the property and is renowned for excellent Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, and Sea Trout fishing. We have exclusive use of a total of 2.8 miles frontage on the River Girvan, much of it double bank fishing.
In addition to fishing on our estate there is also additional fishing in the immediate vicinity including surf casting for sea bass three miles away in the coastal town of Girvan and additional river fishing at the nearby Girvan Mains Fishing Club and The River Girvan Angling Club.
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Shooting / Hunting
There is an abundance of Ringneck and English Blackneck Pheasants in the vicinity of Killochan Castle. We offer hunting rights on our estate and can run private clay pigeon shoots for your guests.
There are also a number of Pheasant shoots nearby! See https://www.gunsonpegs.com/shooting/pheasant/uk/scotland/ayrshire
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Walking
If you prefer to stay on two feet, enjoy one of the walks through the grounds or take in the beautiful surrounding countryside with a longer walk. A range of local walks for all levels can be found using the links below:
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Archery
Enjoy an archery adventure for families, groups and individuals. All archery abilities are welcome – no prior experience is required.
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Golf
We are surrounded by Championship Golf Courses. Guests of all ages and abilities, including children, can book lessons with some of the nearby Golf Clubs. See our “Golf for Everyone” section below for more detail.
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Falconry
Enjoy an introduction to birds of prey in the beautiful grounds of Killochan Castle. Learn from our trained falconer as you both handle and fly a number of birds.
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Highland Games
We can plan and run your very own Highland Games event – our Games comprises of many different activities including Tossing the Caber, Haggis Hurling, Hammer Throwing, Farmer’s Dash and many more!
Highland Games also combines perfectly with other country pursuits such as falconry, archery, or clay pigeon shooting creating an event for everyone.
Golf for Everyone
Located on the south west coast of Scotland, Killochan Castle is close to a number of exceptional golf courses. From challenging world championship venues to inviting local clubs, there is something for every level of player to enjoy.
Golf rounds can be booked prior to your arrival and this is something we advise arranging ahead of time so we can guarantee you the course and day you want during your stay.
We’ve highlighted a few of our favourite nearby courses.
Girvan Golf Course
Distance from Killochan: 3.3 miles
At just over 5,000 yards, Girvan is not the longest. Good club selection and clever course management are key to scoring well round this memorable course.
Trump Turnberry Ailsa Golf Course
Distance from Killochan: 6.9 miles
Ranked Top 10 from Golf Digest’s “World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses”. Home of four Open Championships, the legendary Ailsa course has hosted some of the most iconic names in golf.
Trump Turnberry King Robert The Bruce
Distance from Killochan: 6.9 miles
Breath-taking vistas from the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th of King Robert the Bruce delight golfers, with spectacular views of Turnberry’s stunning coastline, castle ruins and the lighthouse.
Maybole Golf Course
Distance from Killochan: 10.2 miles
Maybole is an attractive nine hole parkland course. With few hazards and generous fairways, Maybole is perfect for beginners or those looking for a more relaxing game of golf.
Belleisle Golf Course
Distance from Killochan: 18.8 miles
These classic courses work their way through the picturesque Belleisle Estate. Belleisle a respected championship course and its ‘little sister’ Seafield, offer their own unique challenges and offer something for every golfer. Combining the natural landscape with spectacular views to Arran these courses are a must for any Braid fan, or simply for anyone who loves golf.
Royal Troon
Distance from Killochan: 28 miles
Royal Troon is one of the great links courses in Scotland. Known as one of the finest championship courses in the world, it has played host to The Open Championship on multiple occasions.
Golf South Ayrshire
Golf South Ayrshire operates eight golf courses throughout the Scottish region of South Ayrshire, the birthplace of the Open.
With three fantastic links courses in Troon, three James Braid-designed classics, and two family-friendly parkland courses, they offer varying degrees of difficulty.
Dogs
Four-legged friends are most welcome at Killochan Castle. If you would like to bring your dog when you visit, we can accommodate you and your canine companion in the Castle, Gatehouse or Cottages for a small additional charge. All we ask is that you kindly observe our protocol regarding dogs which will be displayed in the property handbook when you arrive.