Name: Dean Castle Country Park
Rating: 5.0

Dean Castle Country Park

Dean Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire and Arran, KA3 1XB, Scotland

1-90 Years

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Description

Dean Castle Country Park is a 200-acre country park offering a perfect mix of history, nature and family-friendly activities. Located in the heart of Kilmarnock, it is home to the historic Dean Castle and a variety of scenic landscapes. It is an ideal destination for visitors looking to explore heritage and enjoy the outdoors in one place.

Visitors can explore the 14th-century Dean Castle, featuring historic rooms like the Great Hall, The Keep and The Palace, along with fascinating collections and stories from the Boyd family. The park also offers walking trails through woodlands, parkland and farmland, as well as a Rural Life Centre with rare breed animals, a children’s play area and wildlife experiences. Additional features include a café, visitor centre, gift shop, accessible facilities and opportunities to learn about conservation and local history.

Entry to the park, castle and facilities is completely free for all visitors.

Dean Castle Country Park offers a rich and varied day out for all ages. With its blend of history, nature and family activities, it provides a memorable and engaging experience. It is an ideal place for exploring Scotland’s heritage, enjoying outdoor walks and spending quality time with family.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Dean Castle

The Keep: The Keep of Kilmarnock Castle, now known as Dean Castle, was completed around 1350 by Sir Thomas Boyd. Built as a defence structure, the walls are 2-3m thick with battlements at the top which stand 19m from ground level. There are few windows and the original entrance can still be seen high above ground level. There are no arrow slits in the walls of Dean Castle, which is very rare for a Scottish castle from this time period, All of the shooting was done from the battlements. At this level of the Keep there is also a set of apartments for the soldiers
The Great Hall: Great Halls are normally thought to be rooms solely for feasting but in reality, they were the main room in many castles and were used for a number of activities – from entertaining to dispensing justice. Many of these rooms would also at one time been painted or whitewashed and hung with rich tapestries similar to the ones that hang in the Great Hall today.
The Solar: This would have been the private quarters of the Lord and Lady. The Solar could be split into two halves using a large curtain, one half for ladies and the other for men. You will notice that there are two fireplaces in the Solar should the room need to be split in half. At one end of this room is a small family chapel and this is where the priest would give a private mass for Lord and Lady Boyd. It is vaulted with a stone basin and a tabernacle (or small cupboard). The stunning stained glass window depicts St. Andrew.
The Palace: The 'Place', or Palace, was built around 1460, by Sir Thomas Boyd’s son, Robert Boyd. This building was designed to accommodate the expanding role that the Boyd family held in society and within political circles. The Palace comprises a large banqueting hall, private chambers and kitchens. The presence of many windows, larger than those of the Keep, indicate a move toward a less defensive, more diplomatic society. The Palace building showcased the family’s wealth and power.
The Banqueting Hall: The Banqueting Hall, like The Keep’s Great Hall, was used to entertain guests and showcase the wealth and political standing of the Lord and Lady. However, unlike The Keep’s great hall, very important guests would have been given their own private chamber to sleep. Lord Howard de Walden’s restoration included the addition of wooden panelling and an elaborate plaster ceiling, which was cast from a much earlier ceiling from Balfour House.
Lord Boyd's Chamber: This room, also known as the Great Chamber, was intended for use as a bedroom, a private sitting room, and a space to conduct business. It provided much needed privacy for the Lord and his family. The great chamber was the second most important room in a medieval Castle after the Great Hall. This room has a very discreet entrance from the Banqueting Hall and an exit to the courtyard. This allowed the Lord to retire or slip away from the busy ‘going ons’ of the Banqueting Hall.
The Kitchen Garden: Kitchen Gardens were common in Scotland throughout the medieval period in all kinds of dwellings from simple homes to castles. It was important for the kitchen garden to be productive, with a cycle of fruit and veg grown throughout the year. Plants were grown for the household and were divided into 3 categories, culinary plants, medicinal plants and plants for pleasure. The gardens were normally arranged in raised beds which made drainage easy.
Outlander at Dean Castle: Calling All Outlander Fans! If you’re a fan of the hit show Outlander, or a ‘Heughan’s Heughligan’, then a visit to Dean Castle is a must! Appearing in “The Fox’s Lair” (episode 8 of season 2), Dean Castle was used as Beaufort Castle, seat of Clan Fraser of Lovat and home to Jamie’s grandfather Lord Lovat (‘The Old Fox’). Fans can also enjoy the voice of actor Steven Cree who plays Ian Murray in the show. Steven, who hails from Kilmarnock, will talk you through the history of the Boyds in a brand new AV in the Keep.

Explore the Park

From formal designed landscapes of parkland lime trees and ornamental pines, through native woodland dwarfed by great oaks to open farm land surrounded by grazing horses and buzzing hedgerows, the trails around the park let you experience the different landscapes and habitats that make Dean Castle Country Park nature positive.
The path network involves a few strenuous climbs and some steps. The trails can be walked in their entirety or in bite sized sections to suit. As you walk the trails, you will see some of the work taking place around to make the landscape even better for visitors and wildlife.
Whether planting wildflower meadows, planting new woodlands and hedgerows or creating new ponds we are working hard to make our Park even better! If you’re passing by and see us at work, please don’t hesitate to ask us about what we’re doing. We will be more than happy to tell you all about it!

Rural Life Centre

Visit the Rural Life Centre and learn more about native wildlife, sustainability and rural skills before letting the kids run off some steam in the adjacent play area.
We are working towards becoming a Rare Breeds Centre preserving traditional British breeds of farm animals, which are no longer used in modern intensive agriculture.
In the park you can see our fallow deer herd, Manx Loaghtan sheep, Bagot goats, Eriskay ponies and our Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs.
The Centre has a green roof system that supports East Ayrshire Leisure’s nature positive approach allowing for species and biological growth as well as insulating the building.
The Countryside Team's office is located within the building and you can speak to the team about any wildlife queries and they can give advice, maps and even first-aid. There's also fully accessible toilets and baby change facilities.

Facilities

Wheelchair Access
Disabled Toilet Facilities
Car Parking
Visitor Centre
Available for Hire
Cafe
Gift Shop
Accessible Changing
Baby Changing Facilities
Toilets
Electric Car Charging Point

Website

Contact

Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Sunday: Park & grounds open all year. Castle - 10am - 4pm (last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe - 10:30am-4.30pm. Kiosk reopens Apr 25
Monday: Park & grounds open all year. Castle - 11am - 3pm (last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe - 9.30am-3.30pm.
Tuesday: Park & grounds open all year. Castle - 11am - 3pm (last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe - 9.30am-3.30pm.
Wednesday: Park & grounds open all year. Castle - 11am - 3pm(last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe - 9.30am-3.30pm.
Thursday: Park & grounds open all year. Castle - 11am - 3pm (last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe - 9.30am-3.30pm.
Friday: Park & grounds open all year. Castle - 11am - 3pm (last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe - 9.30am-3.30pm.
Saturday: Park & grounds open all year.Castle - 10am - 4pm (last entry - 30 mins before closing), Visitor Centre & Cafe- 9.30am-3.30pm. Kiosk reopens Apr 25

Address: Dean Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire and Arran, KA3 1XB, Scotland

Post Code: KA3 1XB

Council: Kilmarnock

County: Ayrshire and Arran

By Car: From the North and South (Glasgow and Prestwick Airports). From A77, take the B7038 turn off, follow the B7038/Glasgow Road towards the town centre and turn left onto Dean Road. The main car park is on the left. For Sat Nav, enter KA3 1XB.
By PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Dean Castle Country Park is a 15 minute walk from Kilmarnock Train Station and main bus terminal or a 5 minute walk from the X76 Kilmarnock-Glasgow bus route. Alight on Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock, then follow Dean Road to the Country Park.