In 1775 the castle is shown and marked as a ruin on Armstrong's map. Roy's mid 18th century map shows the Castle of Kyle, and an un-named group of buildings that may be Kyle Farm, suggesting that some robbing of stone from the castle or courtyard may have already taken place. Castle Kyil (sic) is shown as a single tower on Moll's map of 1745. Castle Kyle is shown on Adair's map of 1685 although Dornal Motte is not marked. Although these drawings were only indicative the castle is shown to be larger than the others in the district and unlike many of the others, it is named as a castle. Timothy Pont's 16th century map of Kyle shows Castle Keyil (sic) on its natural mound with three towers and a curtain wall or palisade. As stated a turf-covered footing of a possible watchtower lies at the extreme western edge of the courtyard. A lower terrace with rig and furrow lies to the north. Remains of a dry defensive moat lies on the north-east side of the tower castle ruins.

The dates of these structures may not be contemporary. To the west a deep narrow 'covered way' curves up to the courtyard area and the keep. Kyle stands atop a natural flat-topped spur which appears to have had a surrounding barmkin or courtyard wall as suggested by the elevated sections along the edge of the enclosure and a possible watchtower at the extreme western end. The surviving ashlar north wall section is 6.1m long, 5.5m high and 1.8, thick. Kyle has been dated from the surviving stonework as being 15th to 16th century with a strong rectangular keep that is now 14.0m by 7.0m externally. The castle's chosen location is one of considerable strength with very steep slopes on three sides. The preservation of a small section of the castle may relate to the need for readily identifiable landmarks in this remote and relatively featureless landscape.Įvidence from maps indicated that the castle was abandoned and in ruins towards the last quarter of the 18th century. The castle's stone has been heavily robbed for use in building dry stone dykes and domestic buildings at Dalblair and Kyle Farms. Very little written or verbal history survives regarding Kyle Castle except however for inevitable links with 'Old King Cole or Coilus' that have been regularly suggested. The Cunninghames at some later stage gained possession, followed by the Stewarts of Bute. Margaret, a daughter of the Laird of Barquharrie, was the wife of John Farquhar. The Farquhars obtained further charters to lands from the abbot of Melrose, eventually including the lands of Gilmilnscroft itself. The first written record in 1445 shows that Kyle Castle and its lands were previously held by the monks of Melrose Abbey before the Farquhars of Gilmilnscroft obtained possession, John Farquhar having been granted them in a charter granted by a Commendator of Melrose Abbey. Nearby on the lands of Kyle Stewart stands the large Dornal Motte, a fortification that is recorded as 'Danhell' on Timothy Pont's 16th century map. Significantly the castle or fortalice stands at the boundary of the old lands of Kyle Regis and Kyle Stewart, marked by the confluence of the two rivers that join to form the Glenmuir Water. Ī drawing of the castle when still intact was apparently kept at “the church at Coylton.' The sketch is said to have depicted a four-storied Scottish Tower House with four rooms connected by a staircase. Its name suggests that it was once of some significance. The castle stands at the confluence of the Guelt Water and the Glenmuirshaw Water on a peninsula carved out by these rivers. The ruins of the large courtyard style Kyle Castle, once also known as Cavil Castle or occasionally Dalblair Castle lie close to the hamlet of Dalblair in Auchinleck parish near Muirkirk in the East Ayrshire council area, Scotland. Remnants of the castle's keep from the courtyard areaĬoat of arms of the Farquhars of Gilmilnscroft

Abandoned castle courtyard description