Home - Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre Skip to content DUNDONALD CASTLE & VISITOR CENTRE OPENING TIMES: DAILY 10AM-4PM Tours at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 130pm, 230pm (lunch closure 1pm-130pm) Last castle tour at 230pm Last castle entry at 3pm Dundonald Castle is truly one of Scotland’s hidden gems, tucked away in the quiet, rural landscape in South Ayrshire. The 14th-century hilltop fortified ruin is looked after daily by The Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO, who also manage the attraction’s Visitor Centre. One of Scotland’s most unexplored and fascinating outdoor attractions, this heritage treasure was the historic home to Scots’ King Robert II, grandson of Robert the Bruce. It boasts historical links to the Stewart dynasty, the Wallace family, and the Cochranes, favourites of Charles II. Experience impressive barrel-vaulted ceilings, enjoy a spectacular coastal view and join the Castle Team for stories and rare finds from the site’s 3500-year-old past. The Castle’s rich history is illustrated for all ages, through initiatives in Education, Archaeology, Events, Exhibitions, Weddings, and tours led by enthusiastic local guides. FoDC works in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland. This successful partnership allows FoDC to continue to excite people about their heritage, bring life back to the Castle, and deliver a first-class visitor experience for all. Historic Scotland members can use their cards for free entry to Dundonald Castle. A visit to Dundonald Castle is a great family day out, with a place to enjoy locally sourced, healthy food options from our café, a museum and exhibition area, and local play and picnic areas. Our Visitor Centre is fully accessible, has toilet facilities, and is dog-friendly. Latest Reviews Genuinely impressed by this site. It feels like there's not much to see/do, but the tour provided by June was just fantastic. June is a local to the area, and ... read more was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the castle and area - there wasn't a single question I had she couldn't answer. She was also very welcoming, had a great sense of humour (I still think there's bodies in the walls and/or under the floor) and just lovely to speak to. On top of all this, she volunteers as a tour guide - she's not paid! How much more dedicated to a site can someone be when they're educating visitors unpaid on their own time? I look forward to seeing the castle again when the scaffolding is removed and I can enjoy all parts of the building. We did pop by the little visitor centre - the museum is small but provides a wealth of information, and the restaurant area was lovely. The prices were very reasonable and staff very helpful. I would be happy to recommend Dundonald Castle to all - such an interesting castle to visit and explore. Deductress February 16, 2023 A lovely place to visit. Cafe excellent and staff went above and beyond. Great visit. Very interesting. Y1366QGelizabethw December 4, 2022 Wonderful place -great gem of history. We had a great tour with a wonderful guide Alasdair. He answered all our questions and knew all about the ghosts -and quite ... read more charming. The coffee shop and museum were also delightful -great carrot cake . Very family, kid and dog friendly too! Thank you marciawS5889UP October 30, 2022 My friend and I live local to the castle, but had never actually been on a tour. We both found it thoroughly interesting and really enjoyed learning about the history, ... read more which goes back to the 12th century. The building itself is beautifully and well preserved and the views well worth climbing the stairs to the top, even on a wet autumnal day as we had. Excellent tour and a great wee lunch back at the Cafe after. Susansnotes October 6, 2022 What a great place to visit. Our Additional Support Needs groups are always made welcome to the Castle and Visitors Center. The coffee and cake is served with a smile, ... read more and we never feel rushed to leave. See you again soon!!! J2642GZsuzannes August 18, 2022 Subscribe to Newsletter FODC Updates Click HERE for more posts Planning Permission Granted for Visitor Centre Extension Exciting News from Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO (SC031541)! We’re thrilled to share that planning permission has officially been granted for the extension of our Visitor Centre! This is a … Community-Led Tourism #ScotVisitorEconomy Today [25/04/2025] is #CommunityTourismDay25 – and we’re proud to be part of it! At Dundonald Castle, community isn’t just part of the story—it is the story. From 3,500 years of … Funding Success – ARIA Community Asset Maintenance Fund In 2021, we achieved something truly special – the successful community asset transfer of Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre! Now proudly owned and managed by Friends of Dundonald Castle (SC031541), the … SUPPORTED BY: ARIA Capital Fund 2024 Funding was secured to purchase new fixtures and fittings to upgrade the space at Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre/Hub (tables, chairs, heating units). Funding for much needed IT equipment to assist with daily operations of the charity was also secured. FODC Space Project This project has secured funding for the preparatory work for the proposed extension to our Visitor Centre space. Thank you to ARIA for their wonderful support. Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (CMHWF) This project has helped the Community Hub/Visitor Centre to remain open 7 days a week over the winter period 2023/24 to support our amazing locals and visitors. Thank you to VASA for their wonderful support. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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