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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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1 Bathroom
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Pets No
Features
- Off road parking
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Seaside
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
18 Customer Reviews
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"Such a lovely place to stay!"
Location is excellent and it was great to explore the grounds of Culzean castle each evening when everyone else had gone home. House very clean and well maintained. Very comfy beds! Only improvements would be black out blinds (especially in the bunk room) and a more powerful shower. Would happily stay here again!
Thank you for you feedback. We have asked the property team to look into getting a blind fitted. Property Owner
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"The cottage was wonderful in every way."
Spacious, well equipped, and in a fantastic setting, overlooking the Castle. The perfect base for exploring the Castle and Country Park and coastline. It even had a lovely little garden to relax in.
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"Beautiful setting."
However, an absolute farce one of the nights we stayed as the castle fire alarm went off twice. Once just before midnight and again at 2:45am. This alarm was the most horrible sound and extremely loud from the accommodation. In both instances, the alarm rang continuously for approximately 45 minutes. Also, on both occasions, two fire engines arrived with continious blue flashing lights that lit up the accommodation like a disco. The lights were not switched off. The fire engines were left waiting for some time, until a member of staff eventually appeared with a key to the castle. The next morning, I called to try and speak to a member of staff at Culzean. Despite leaving a message and trying several times, nobody ever got back to me. This was so very disappointing, especially when paying a premium price to stay in unique accommodation. It was most difficult to settle on the following nights, as we were worried that the same situation would arise again. Would not return or recommend staying here.
Thanks for your feedback and we are sorry to hear that the Castle fire alarm caused a disturbance during your stay. Given the historical nature of the Castle and its collections, a sensitive detection system with audible alarm is a legal requirement for the building. Fortunately fire alarm activation in the Castle is rare however they can occur due to various non fire reasons (bats, dust etc). Since this particular spate of alarms we have procured a new detection control panel and upgraded filters to help decrease the number of false alarms. In addition, we have reviewed the procedure for out of hours entry to the Castle and plan to implement a new system to reduce access time in the event of a fire alarm. Finally, we will also look to modifying the alarm sound levels and alert tone to make it more sympathetic to the local environment. Finally, we are sorry that no one responded to your queries the following day. Unfortunately this query did not make it through to our Facilities department who would normally respond in relation to fire alarms. Property Owner
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"Well equipped, clean and excellent location."
Access to the garden was a problem as the gate did not open, but otherwise the Clocktower provided excellent accommodation for our family visit to Culzean.
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"We loved every minute."
A childhood dream come true to stay at the castle and have the grounds all to ourselves in the evening. Will be back.
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"This is the third Sykes apartment that I have rented at Culzean in the past year and this one is every bit as good as the others, the living room is large and airy and has a nice view of the surrounding area."
The rooms and furniture are in excellent condition, the kitchen is large and well equipped. There is however a couple of things to note, the apartment may not be suitable for someone with mobility issues as all three bedrooms are upstairs and are reached by a small stairway, the other thing is that the apartment isn't in the actual clock tower - the one over the archway - but is to the right of it in a smaller "tower" - not that it made any difference, you still got a good view of the castle from the bedroom I was in. The whole experience was great and you've got the added bonus of the location...the Culzean estate, and that won't disappoint.
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"The house was lovely and was very well equipped."
The Snug was a very nice "extra" inside and having the private garden was wonderful. We spent most of our time inside the estate as, apart from the castle, there were so many things to do and see eg the the deer and the llamas, the Walled Garden, the Swan Lake, lovely walks etc. The Home Farm restaurant, the Aviary and the Art Shop were super. We had an excellent week's holiday at the Clock Tower.
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"We had the most wonderful week at the Clocktower, despite the storms!"
It’s an incredible property for exploring with children and they were thrilled with the playgrounds, castle, beach, deer and walks. The apartment was very comfortable and well-equipped. It would be even more spectacular if it had more sympathetic art (eg black and white etchings of Culzean) and less modern furniture, but that’s a minor point! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and are recommending it to everyone.
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"Definitely one of the best family holidays we’ve ever had."
The adventure playground is amazing, house was so close to the beach, castle just across the courtyard and super private garden too. All the staff were really friendly and helpful, made us feel so welcome. It was a treat to have the grounds to explore in early morning and evening when public have left! The bedroom with bunk beds had no blind over the velux window, making it tricky for children to sleep at night.
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"The apartment was great for a family of 5, very spacious and clean, we would stay here again."
The only issue was the wi-fi was a bit hit and miss.
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"We had a very nice stay at the Clock Tower, it had everything we needed and was nice and warm."
The location is fantastic and it is nice to be able to walk around the estate when everybody has gone home.
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"There was no outside light and as the courtyard is enclosed it was difficult to see when retuning after dark."
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"This is a wonderful place to stay!"
The location is amazing, the gardens and views outstanding and the staff extremely helpful. It's the perfect place to relax, recharge and get a complete break.
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"Extremely nice place to stay and we would love to come back for another stay in the future."
However the kitchen equipment could be improved with more and bigger pots and pans and maybe a blender, too. In the bunk bed room a blind on the velux would be great to prevent waking up early in your holiday.
Thank you for your feedback and we will pass on your comments to the team at Culzean re the kitchen equipment and the roller blind. Property Owner
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"The Clocktower cottage was beautiful and comfortable - our whole family loved it!"
Thank you so much for the kind words, we hope to welcome you back to Culzean. Property Owner
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"What a special property!"
The view from every window was spectacular and it was such a treat to be able to wander around the beautiful grounds in peace before the castle opened each day. The cottage was very comfortably furnished and had every convenience we required. This was an important holiday for us as I was diagnosed with stage four cancer last year, so have spent much of the time since preparing/recovering from two surgeries and chemo. I’m hopefully in a period of recovery now so we wanted to go away as a family for a few days to draw a line under the last year and start fresh. This was the perfect place to reset and my family and I will always cherish the special memories we made here. Thank you.
Many thanks for your comments and great to read that the stay at Culzean helped your recovery. We hope to see you again at Culzean. Property Owner
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"Great location very comfortable apartment."
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"We loved out stay in The Clocktower."
Garden amazing and lovely sea view. Small point but the stair carpet is very slippy ! Other half slipped on way downstairs so would be better with a carpet that is rough. The downstairs ‘snug’ would make an excellent downstairs bedroom particularly for elderly who may struggle with stairs ( swap as snug in upstairs bunk room as that window not great as sun shone through very early morning or could do with electric velux blind. All in all loved the cottage. Definitely would stay again
Thank you for your comments about Clocktower, one of our new properties that we have opened this summer. Thank you for the feedback about the stair carpet, the carpet is new so will look at what we can do about the pile. Thank you for the suggestion about the downstairs snug, one of the Holidays Team will be visiting Culzean shortly and we will look into your suggestion and also fitting a blind on the velux. Property Owner
Summary
- Three bedrooms: 1 x super-king-size (zip/link, can be twin on request), 1 x queen-size, 1 x adult bunk
- Ground-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
- Kitchen/diner with TV
- Living/dining room with woodburning stove
- Snug
- Gas central heating with woodburning stove
- Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, coffee machine
- 3 x FreeSat TV, WiFi
- Fuel, power inc. in rent (Wood Burner Fuel not included)
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Travel cot and highchair available
- Off-road parking for 1 car
- Private, enclosed garden with lawn, decking and picnic bench
- Holiday guests can enjoy a complimentary tour of the castle, subject to normal opening hours and availability
- Access to the estate grounds outside of the regular opening hours
- Sorry, no pets and no smoking
- Shop 5.1 miles, pub 5.3 miles, beach 0.9 miles
- Cot bedding is not provided
- The garden is accessed from the outside of the property
- The opening times, visitor facilities and entry prices of all National Trust for Scotland properties and attractions can be viewed on their website here
The property
Maybole 5.6 miles.
Perched in the centre of the Culzean Castle & Country Park Estate on the outskirts of the charming town of Maybole, is this superb three-bedroom cottage, The Clocktower, a National Trust for Scotland property offering a group or family of six a remarkable setting for their getaway.
The Clocktower enjoys an exceptional courtyard setting with an outlook towards the estates original clocktower, magnificent castle and out towards the sea, a perfect spot for enjoying all the grand estate has to offer.
Step into your new home, where you will find all you need in the well-equipped kitchen/diner to create tasty dishes for your loved ones to enjoy at one of two dining areas in the home over a celebratory bottle of fizz.
On warmer days, be sure to dine alfresco out in your very own large, private enclosed garden with a backdrop of stunning views as the little ones run and play.
After dinner, why not explore the exceptional surroundings of a 260ha estate, where you will find woodland walks, a Swan Pond, formal gardens, fruit-filled glass houses, and an Adventure Cove and play park for the children to enjoy?
Return to the living/dining room where you can relax with your favourite tipple and select a much-loved film on the FreeSat TV, whilst the kids escape to the snug to watch a film.
The living/dining room also offers a lovely dining area where you can enjoy meals with loved ones with breath-taking views over the garden and out towards the castle.
After an adventure filled day, you can freshen up in the well-appointed bathroom, before retiring to the first floor to catch your rest in one of three beautifully decorated bedrooms, a super-king-size with zip/link and views over the castle’s laird, a queen with castle and sea views, and an adult bunk, all with plenty of storage for your belongings.
In the morning, take a tour of the castle where you will discover the famous Robert Adam’s Oval Staircase, a must-see for any guests.
For a getaway to Scotland like no other, secure your stay at The Clocktower.
Note: This property can be booked with Refs: 1060510, 1060512, 1060513, 1060514, 1060515, 1104229 and 1104228 together sleeping 31 guests.
EPC Rating: Band E
Short-term Holiday Let Licence No: SA-00329-F
Culzean Castle Cottages
A collection of eight spectacular National Trust for Scotland cottages, resting amidst the splendour of the Culzean Castle & Country Park, this group of historic holiday lets can be found resting on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland, on the outskirts of the charming town of Maybole. Designed by Robert Adam in the 1770s on one of Scotland’s most dramatic cliff top sites, affording panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde, these properties make a splendid choice for groups of friends or families seeking a scenic escape to Scotland. The grounds on which the properties are situated offer plenty of natural wonders well worth exploring at any time of the year, including around 600 acres of woodland and formal gardens, and three miles of varied coastline; it is a true haven for wildlife watchers. Each property offers its own unique and predominantly traditional interior with contemporary touches throughout, creating a wonderfully relaxing retreat. Spend time together exploring the Swan Pond, Adventure Playground and Deer Park, something the little ones are sure to delight at where you can adopt your very own deer, or enjoy a special moment with your partner amongst the romantic aura of the castle, with the Armoury, the Library and the famous Oval Staircase all worth seeing. The grounds also boast a farm shop and kitchen, catering to all of your culinary needs, while a wider selection of eateries can be found in the local town of Maybole, where you can take your pick from pubs, restaurants and tearooms, as well as a selection of shops for picking up any fresh ingredients. The town hosts an impressive 19th century town hall and an equally imposing castle, the perfect stop off for any history lover, while a more relaxing day can be found on the golden sands of the beach. Just a short stroll away from the properties, the beach is the perfect place to make precious memories with your loved ones or perhaps even try out a new watersport, for those feeling more adventurous. The cottages rest within easy reach of the popular coastal town of Ayr, home to a selection of shops where you can pick up the perfect souvenir or enjoy a day of retail therapy, as well as a pretty esplanade with a wonderful sandy beach, Ayr Racecourse, three golf courses and much more. The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, also owned by the National Trust for Scotland, rests just outside the town, and is well worth visiting to learn about the life of Scotland’s national bard. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the Galloway Forest Park, or simply soak up the beauty of your surroundings from your wonderful holiday homes, the Culzean Castle Cottages.
About the location
MAYBOLE
Ayr 5 miles.
Maybole, the ancient capital of Carrick, has a recorded history dating back to the 1100s. The high street is especially striking, with its imposing 19th Century town hall and impressive Maybole Castle, believed to date back to 1560. Once an area famous for shoe manufacturing, the village now affords a variety of shops and pubs, and a rather quirky parish church of prominent orange stone. The wonderful Ayrshire coastline is within easy reach, whilst the busy market town of Ayr, the capital of Burns Country, with its host of amenities, is just 5 miles away. Galloway Forest, a mere 10 miles away, provides excellent walking opportunities, and captivating Culzean Bay, with its grand castle and delightful gardens, is within a 12 mile drive. A wonderful, peaceful location, perfectly located for exploring the beautiful West coast of Scotland.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas