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Turnberry

Very little now survives of the 12th century Turnberry Castle, where Robert the Bruce is supposed to have been born. The story of how his parents met is an unusual one. Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, the young widow of Adam de Kilconquhar, saw a knight passing by her castle at Turnberry. She immediately became infatuated with him, and had him kidnapped and brought into her presence. He turned out to be Robert de Brus, son of the Lord of Annandale, and she persuaded him to marry her. The result of the marriage was Robert the Bruce, who himself became Earl of Carrick on his mother’s death. Because Robert ascended the throne of Scotland as Robert I, the earldom became a royal one, and the present Earl of Carrick is Prince Charles.

Built onto the scant ruins of Turnberry castle is Turnberry Lighthouse, surrounded on three sides by the championship golf course. The elegant five star Turnberry Hotel is situated south east of the castle, just off the main road, and is one of the premier hotels in Scotland. It even has its own small runway for aircraft, and at one time had its own railway line from Ayr to bring guests. During World Wars I and II, all this area was an airfield, and the runways can still be seen. There is a War Memorial on the golf course dedicated to the men of the airfield who died in World War I. It is in the shape of a double Celtic cross, and was erected by the people of Kirkoswald parish in 1923. In 1990 the monument was altered so that the names of the airmen killed during World War II could be added.