Kames Castle

The site consists of a 16th-century tower house, extended by the addition of a range of cottages. The castle is set in 20 acres of planted grounds, including a 2-acre 18th-century walled garden.

Robert the Bruce bestowed the territory of Kames upon the Bannatyne family in the 14th century; however, the tower house visitors can see today is dated much later, to approximately the 16th century. The last Bannatyne owner was Sir William Macleod Bannatyne (1743–1833), a distinguished lawyer and judge in Edinburgh. Under his direction, the walled garden and manor adjoining the tower house were constructed throughout the later 18th and early 19th centuries.
Lord Bannatyne sold the estate around 1810, to James Hamilton WS, preferring his social life in Edinburgh. In 1863, Kames Castle was incorporated into the Marquess of Bute’s estate. Around 1900 the manor house was demolished and replaced with a series of cottages around a courtyard, with the intention of creating a hunting lodge.

Kames Castle is now privately owned, with a number of cottages available as holiday lets. The castle, cottages, walled garden and other estate buildings are category B listed buildings.