Culzean Castle

Culzean Castle stands on the brink of 150ft cliffs that drop sheer into the Firth of Clyde. In 1945 the widow of the 4th Marques agreed to hand the castle and grounds over to the National Trust for Scotland, subject to her retaining the use of the west wing for life, and subject to the top floor of the castle being converted into a flat for the use of General Eisenhower as a gesture of gratitude from Scotland, for his part in securing victory during World War II.

The Eisenhower Apartment is a small, country house-style hotel, located on the second floor of Culzean Castle, enjoying superb panoramic marine views across the sea to the mountains of Arran...Comprising 6 bedrooms, a circular Drawing Room and elegant Dining Room, the Apartment is perhaps one of the most exclusive places to stay anywhere in Scotland.

Dinner at the Eisenhower Apartment is served at 8pm, following drinks in the drawing room. The whole occasion is arranged on a very personal basis, with a selection of menus sent out to guests in advance of arrival. Any unsuitable dishes can be rejected and preferences suggested. Over afternoon tea the menu is presented for your final selection from two choices for each course. The emphasis is on fresh local produce such as home made vegetable soups, fresh garden salads, Ayrshire lamb, Scotch beef and the best of West Coast fish and seafood.At around 7.30pm the guests began to gather in the drawing room where a full cocktail bar - spirits, wine and champagne - was laid out for people to help themselves. The atmosphere was extremely `homely`- in a very grand and elegant fashion - and so much more comfortable and relaxing than a typical hotel.

The armory display is the largest collection of its type in existence, apart from Her Majesty the Queen’s at Windsor Castle. In 1812, the flamboyant and ambitious 12th Earl bought the pistols and swords from the Office of Ordnance at the Tower of London. The arms were dispatched from London in twelve chests along with ‘one of the men from the tower with the Arms, who will fix them up in a proper manner’.