Straiton

First developed by Thomas, Earl of Cassilis, Sir Edward Hunter Blair rebuilt the picturesque village of Straiton at the end of the 19th century. The ancestral seat of the Hunter-Blair Baronets is Blairquhan Castle, which is a stunning representation of Georgian architecture and is open throughout spring and summer. The castle was also used as one of the main filming locations for the 2006 movie 'The Queen', which starred Dame Helen Mirren and garnered numerous awards.

Other buildings of interest include the Black Bull Inn (1766), Traboyack (1795) and St Cuthbert's Church of 1758, restored in 1901. A beautiful natural attraction is the dramatic hillside waterfall, Tairlaw Linn.

Local amenities include a village shop, coffee shop and three nearby pubs.