Blairquhan Castle

2009 has been another busy year at Blairquhan.  After another very successful Snowdrop Day we had a fantastic Run for Chest Heart and Stroke.  Almost 500 runners and supporters cheered on the Happy Feet Event.

The St. Cuthbert’s Burns Supper Homecoming Bash organised by Mrs. Miller and the Staff of St. Cuthbert’s Primary was the most memorable homecoming event at Blairquhan.

The Flying Display in May accompanied by the Ayrshire Group of the Scottish Bonsai Association, Ayrshire Classsic Cars, Harley-Davidson Club encouraged another 500 visitors on to enjoy the beauty of Blairquhan in May.

We had a very busy summer season with weddings, a film documentary and Rolex in residence for the Open Golf at Turnberry.

The highlight of the Autumn season was celebrating our Silver Wedding,  after a particularly memorable pilgrimage to Rome with some particularly memorable pilgrims from Maybole!!!

Our eldest daughter is happily away at Vet School and Caoimhe thoroughly enjoyed her hockey tour in Italy.  Ronan is rugby mad as ever and enjoyed his season with the Kestrels in the summer.  The twins are designing a new hen house funded by proceeds from their eggs and Romeo their Ryeland Lamb is off to the sales soon.

The fishing season is drawing to a close once again and the shoot has started their new season.

The Autumn colours are looking spectacular this year and well-worth viewing if you are passing through this way.

Many thanks to all of you who came to see us on our open days and our guides too as we had a record 1800 visitors this year.

Sir Patrick and Lady Hunter Blair

House & Gardens will be open on Sunday 24th May 2009 to host a spectacular aerobatic display performed by a group of professional flying enthusiasts.

Bring cameras and enjoy this display and other attractions.

Other attractions include:
CLASSIC CARS • BONSAI DISPLAY

First Tickets 2.00 pm Last Tickets 4.15 pm

Last Entrance to House 4.30 pm House Closes 5.00 pm

Grounds Close 6.00 pm

Adults £6.00 | Children (6-16) £3.00 | OAPs £5.00

Outdoor attractions include the Ice House, Tree Trail, delightful Walled Garden and walks through the extensive grounds.

Inside the castle browse through over 20 rooms: Visit two Picture Galleries with works by Eliza Hunter Blair; Family Museum; William Burn Exhibition; the Robert Burns/Hunter Blair connection; the Col.Hunter Blair of Inkerman display.

We have our Snowdrop Day for Scotland’s Gardens Scheme on Sunday, 22nd February from 12.00 – 4.00. £6.00 per adult including tea.

On 1st March we have a ‘Happy Feet’ Day in aid of CHSS – 10K & 5K runs Sponsored by Nike – applications online www.chss.org.uk.

After a successful fishing season (where the King Fisher award goes once again to Arthur), the shooting season got off to a slightly damp start on 4th October.

The Woodfuel business is thriving and nets of logs remain best value in the area at £2.80 per bag.

Our new website is virtually completed and operational from October 2008.

Many thanks must go to Christine Ottewill for much of the photography and to Ocean Agency, Ayr.

Amidst many corporate events and elaborate and stylish parties we had a very scary makeover of the Castle when it became “Spiderwick Manor” for the week. You will be glad to hear that the mission to find the book was successful and the goblins satisfactorily defeated.

Visitor numbers to the Castle on our open days were well up, possibly due to the fantastic air show which was held in July in collaboration with Adam Fergusson from Kilkerran and many of his talented winged friends.

Recent additions to the family include a gun dog, cats Tom and Jerry, hens including Lisa who won First Prize at Carsphairn Show, and two Ryeland sheep Harriet and Juliet!

We were delighted that Niamh passed her driving test and that Murphy (a horse) recovered from a serious injury. Caoimhe continues to enjoy her music and hockey (with her bright green and pink stick) and Ronan is as muddy as ever playing rugby for his school and Ayr Rugby Club.

In May the family held two very special parties, one to celebrate the Twins First Communion and the second their dad’s significant birthday!

A wide range of magnificent and completely stunning weddings followed. The Brides in May and June saw Blairquhan looking vibrant in the bright summer sunshine. After some much needed rain the Brides in June, July and August seemed to have the timing perfect to escape the odd shower that seemed to keep coming our way. At least two Brides had their ‘outdoor’ dreams come true when the weather cleared and the sun shone on their open air services in the walled garden.

In February it turned out that last year was not a one-off and we had about 400 visitors again for Snowdrop Day (in aid of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme charities and the Ayrshire Rivers Trust).

2008 has been Blairquhan’s busiest year ever.

January was great fun with friends from Northern Ireland hosting a Burns Supper for their friends and colleagues in the construction industry.