CARRAIG
Remains of Turnberry Castle at Turnberry Lighthouse
BIRTHPLACE OF BRUCE
This is where it all began ...
Robert The Bruce was born at Turnberry Castle in 1274 on this piece of land where Turnberry Lighthouse stands today. His birth was unrecorded but it was almost certainly in the ancestral home of his mother Marjorie, countess of Carrick. Can you imagine him as a child scrambling around the rocks and paddling in the sea? Bruce's links to Carraig are strong. He was baptised at Crossraguel Abbey, most likely visited Dunure Castle and landed at Maidens after misreading smoke signals. When Bruce was here, he looked over these lands as home. Indeed it is said that it was Robert The Bruce who ordered the destruction of Turnberry Castle in 1310 to stop it falling into English hands. This historical part of Scotland is bathed in beauty. Rolling green hills, picturesque harbours, sandy beaches and iconic landmarks. Within each location, communities have formed that keep Carraig the welcoming destination that it is today. The birthplace of Robert The Bruce!
Souter Johnnie's Cottage, Kirkoswald
HOME OF BURNS
Carraig also has many connections with world renowned poet Robert Burns. His parents met and married in Maybole and Burns lived for a period in Kirkoswald, studying here and having his eyes open to the world of smuggled contraband and drunken orgies. He also spent many an hour practicing his debating skills with his friend at Crossraguel Abbey. Pictured above is Souter Johnnie's Cottage owned by The National Trust For Scotland. Also in Kirkoswald is the thatched roof Souters Inn, built on the site of Burns' old school situated across from Kirkoswald Auld Kirkyard where some of the real life characters from Burns' most famous poem Tam o' Shanter lie.
TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES
Carraig has a rich history of traditional industries. Maybole was once world renowned for boot and shoe making with stores open throughout the UK called 'The Maybole Shoe Shop'. By 1891 around one million pairs of boots and shoes were being produced annually.
Crosshill was first settled by Irish immigrants who were hand-loom weavers. They constructed the single storey cottages, some of which can still be found today on Dalhowan Street.
A brand new Carraig Exhibition is set to open in 2025 in the Readers Room, Kirkoswald where there will be information on these industries plus work that took place in the gasyards, shipyards, fishing industries and more.
FAMOUS FOLK
Other historical figures connected to Carrick include Mary Queen of Scots who spent three nights at Dunure Castle, one night at Ardmillan Castle south of Girvan and a final night at Ardstinchar Castle, Ballantrae. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was known to have spent his summers in Dunure and President Eisenhower also worshipped at Kirkoswald Church and considered Culzean his second home. 'Ike' as he was known, even said he considered himself a Minnieboler! Prince William is the current Earl of Carrick.
Then of course there was the infamous cannibal Sawney Bean who lived in Bennane Cave, Ballantrae. Was he real or was he folklore? You decide ...
CARRAIG FESTIVALS
Pictured above are three of our unique festivals celebrating Carraig assets such as the sea, smugglers and food and drink. Girvan Folk Festival was established in 1975 and will be celebrating fifty years of folk this year!
CARRAIG FILMS
Carraig is no stranger to the silver screen with Dunure Harbour and Castle having a starring role in Outlander, The Queen starring Helen Mirren being filmed at Blairquhan Castle and Culzean Castle and The Match being filmed at The Black Bull, Straiton.
CARRAIG ARTS
Local artists include world renowned sculptor John McKenna (no public entry), Bruce's Web artist David Powell (appointments), Honeysuckle Rock Art and Carrick Coastal Creations (appointments), William Alan McMillan Art & Poetry (appointments), Alan Lees Artist (appointments), writer Catherine Czerkawska and Samantha Briggs Art Studio (appointments). CRAG Community Arts based at the wee art school, Girvan provide opportunities for people to engage with and participate in quality arts events and activities including Carrick Carnival of Light as pictured below.
Art Galleries in Carraig include Electric Brae Art Gallery, Coach House Gallery, Smiddy Art Gallery, Studio Seventy Four, Wave Gallery and the art gallery with artist Elspeth Guthrie at Souter Johnnie's Cottage - check seasonal opening times for all.
See our courie indoors page for art galleries and theatre performances
Carrick Carnival of Light, Girvan
CARRAIG CULTURE ECO-MUSEUM EXHIBITS
Experience Culture with our Carraig Eco-Museum exhibits including :
FILM LOCATIONS : Dunure Harbour and Castle (Outlander), Blairquhan Castle and Culzean Castle (The Queen) and The Black Bull Straiton (The Match)
MUSEUMS : The McKechnie Institute (Girvan) plus of course our very own Carraig eco-museum where you can roam the lands discovering all of our outdoor exhibits within this website!
GALLERIES : Electric Brae Art Gallery (Croy beach setting), Coach House Gallery and Smiddy Art Gallery in Culzean Country Park, Studio Seventy Four (Girvan) Wave Gallery (Girvan) and the art gallery with artist Elspeth Guthrie at Souter Johnnie's Cottage Kirkoswald - check seasonal opening times for all.