By The Sea

Overall, the weather up here in Scotland this summer has been bloody awful. It’s rained for almost the entirety of July and August with maybe a week of dry but very overcast weather. However, a few go we did get two days of nice weather so Prince B and I headed to the coast, to Troon, to take a walk along the beach as I needed to get fresh air and breath in the sea air.

I love Troon beach. I grew up by the seaside not far from Troon so the whole West coastline, with views of Arran in the distance, is just the most relaxing place to be when it all gets a bit much as it reminds me of being young, spending my days at beach.

On route we spotted a castle in the countryside, which turned out to be the ruins of Dundonald Castle. Castles are my obsession, so on the way back from the beach I wanted to explore the castle. Unfortunately there was a wedding happening inside the ruins so I couldn’t explore the best bits, bit it was still a castle I’d never seen before.

Built in 1371, Dundonald Castle is a splendid example of a medieval tower house, with a barrel-vaulted ceiling in the lower hall.

Sitting on a prominent hilltop in Dundonald village, Dundonald Castle commands fine views over the Firth of Clyde. The castle was built on the site of earlier castles belonging to the High Stewards of Scotland and can be regarded as the cradle of the Stewart Dynasty. 

The high-vaulted halls and gloomy dungeons of this splendid stronghold, perched on a hill above the village are all still visible. The main tower was built in the 1370s by King Robert II to mark his succession to the throne.