History
1346
The original Blairquhan tower house was built by the McWhirter family on its current site.
1573
An additional section of the old castle was added by the Kennedy family, who inherited the property through marriage.
c.1622
Blairquhan Castle was taken over by the Whiteford family.
1798
Suffering the effects of a bank crash, the Whitefords sold Blairquhan to Sir David Hunter Blair, 3rd Baronet, the second son of Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet and Jean Blair, the daughter and heiress of John Blair of Dunskey in Wigtownshire.
1820
Sir David commissioned the famous Scottish architect William Burn to build a new Castle after the original building was neglected and left ruinous.
1821
The foundation stone of today’s Blairquhan Castle was laid.
1824
Building work of the new Blairquhan Castle was completed.
1970
Blairquhan opened its doors to paying guests for the first time.
2005
Oscar winning motion picture ‘The Queen’, starring Helen Mirren, was filmed at Blairquhan, where its interiors and grounds were used as a substitute location for Balmoral Castle.
2012
Sir Patrick Hunter-Blair, 9th Baronet, sold over 200 acres of the Blairquhan estate including Blairquhan Castle and 8 self-catering cottages to its current owner, Ganten Scotland Ltd., a subsidiary of a Chinese company which bottles mineral water for distribution around the world.
Write Your Story in a Place of Eternal Romance
Set amidst the rolling countryside of Ayrshire, Blairquhan Castle is an exclusive-use wedding venue where romance, elegance, and history come together. With its storybook turrets, grand interiors, and sweeping estate views, the castle provides a breathtaking backdrop for celebrations that feel both intimate and extraordinary.