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Ballantrae

When on a walking tour of Carrick in 1876, RL Stevenson spent a night in Ballantrae, a small fishing village. However, dour villagers took exception to his way of dressing, and almost ran him out of town. He got his revenge by writing The Master of Ballantrae, which confused everyone by having no connection with the place whatsoever.

In the churchyard is the Bargany Aisle, containing the ornate tomb of Gilbert Kennedy, laird of Bargany and Ardstinchar, who was killed by the Earl of Cassillis (also a Kennedy) in 1601. A bitter feud between the Cassillis and Bargany branches of the Kennedy family had been going on right through the 16th century, with no quarter given or taken. Matters came to a head when the two branches met near Ayr, and Bargany was killed. The power of the Bargany branch was broken forever, and the feud fizzled out. The ruins of Ardstinchar Castle, Bargany’s main stronghold, can still be seen beside the river. It was built in 1421, and in August 1566 Mary Stuart stayed there.

Glenapp Castle, a few miles south of Ballantrae just off the A77, was designed in 1870 by the noted Victorian architect David Bryce for James Hunter, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire. It is now a luxury hotel surrounded by 30 acres of grounds and gardens.