If you are planning on travelling distance to attractions, we would recommend that you contact the venues directly in advance to avoid disappointment.
If you, or any of your party have a new persistant cough, or develop a fever of 38C, we would instead advise you to use the NHS's dedicated website for professional advice.
Dean Castle takes its name from ‘The Dean' or wooded valley - a common place name in Scotland. The original keep dates from around 1350 with the Palace being added around 110 years later. Built by the Boyd family, it has strong historical connections with many people and events in Scottish history - Robert the Bruce who gave the lands to the Boyds, James III whose sister married a Boyd, the Covenanters - some of whom were imprisoned there, Bonnie Prince Charlie - whose rebellion was joined by the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock and Robert Burns who was encouraged to publish his poems by the Earl of Glencairn who owned the castle at the time.
The castle is situated in Kilmarnock’s Dean Castle Country Park and the castle and buildings form an important example of an accurately restored medieval Scottish courtyard castle. The castle houses the Howard de Walden Collection of arms and armour and tapestries, the Charles van Raalte collection of early musical instruments and items relating to Robert Burns.
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