Rare footage from top of Eglinton Castle!

The ruins of the Eglinton Castle in North Ayrshire are all that remain of what was actually a large Georgian mansion, commissioned by the 12th Earl, and completed in 1802 by the Edinburgh architect John Paterson on the site of a much earlier castle. It's said there were 365 windows, one for every day of the year. In this video, Ranger Joanne takes us inside for a rare tour.

Sitting in about 1400 acres of land, with about 10 miles of roads, it was a magnificent building. The central saloon was 36 feet wide (11m) and about 100 feet high (30m). The grounds also had a stable block, a deer park, an enormous bowling green said to one of the finest in Britain, a cricket pitch, tennis courts, croquet lawn, squash court, a rackets hall (the oldest surviving court in the world and the oldest indoor sports building in Scotland), curling pond, fish pond, ice house, gardens, greenhouses, and a private gas works. At its peak, the estate employed more than 400 people. In 1901, it is recorded that Eglinton had the most important collection of species of mature trees in southern Scotland.

Archibald, the 13th Earl of Eglinton, staged an authentic Medieval Tournament, complete with Knights on horseback in full armour and all their servants, feasting, jousting, and a Queen of Beauty over three days in August 1839 in the grounds of the Castle. The extravagant event attracted an estimated 100,000 spectators from all over the UK and beyond, and it benefitted from the recent completion of the first railway lines in Ayrshire. (It also caused the first fares increase!) Unfortunately, torrential rain ruined much of the first day of the event, creating huge cleaning bills for the Earl, and earning the Tournament an infamous place in history. Contrary to popular opinion, the Tournament did not itself cause the downfall and bankruptcy of the Eglintons, but it didn't help.

The ongoing costs of keeping the Eglinton empire afloat were enormous. Unsuccessful business projects, the poor condition of the Castle, and finally, death duties, all had a fatal impact on finances. The Castle was abandoned in 1925, was de-roofed and had the windows removed.

During the early part of the last War, the Army and Navy used it for target practice, destroying two of the four towers, and vehicle maintenance and preparation depots for future European troop landings were established in the grounds.

Around 1973, the ruins were rationalised and made safe, resulting in what we see today. The establishment of Eglinton Country Park by the old Irvine Development Corporation (IDC) and North Ayrshire Council saved much of the estate for the benefit of all the people of Ayrshire and beyond.

The Wilson family gave the park to the then Cunninghame District Council in 1978, making it possible to establish Eglinton Country Park, a resource which now attracts over 250,000 visitors a year. Facilities include woodland walks, bird hides, picnic areas, Ranger Service, visitor centre and exhibition, play areas, camping and caravan site, and café.

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