THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND

CULZEAN CASTLE

Culzean Castle
Ayrshire
Scotland.
President Eisenhower and
The Eisenhower Apartment

An exclusive small hotel in a clifftop Scottish Castle about 50 miles south of Glasgow.

Like a storybook castle, this fantastic example of Robert Adam's genius stands dramatically on a cliff with superb views across the sea to the mountains of the Island of Arran.

Between 1777 and 1792 Adam converted an old fortified towercastle for David Kennedy, the 10th Earl of Cassillis, creating at Culzean (pronounced "Cullane") probably the finest Georgian castle in Scotland. Its Circular Saloon and Oval Staircase are acknowledged as Adam's final masterpiece.

The Castle and President Eisenhower

When the Kennedy family donated the castle to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945 they asked that the top floor be given to General Eisenhower as a thank you from the people of Scotland.

Ike first came to Culzean in 1946 and was clearly touched to accept this gift. He visited the castle three more times, once as President when, for a short while, Culzean was his Scottish White House.

His longest stay was during his retirement when he enjoyed painting and walking in the peace and quiet of Culzean's beautiful gardens, woodland and shore, as well as playing golf nearby.

He wrote of Culzean, "This is a place I can relax."

The Eisenhower Apartment

Today, Ike's Scottish holiday retreat provides exclusive accommodation for visitors in 6 bedrooms.

There is a charming round sitting room (pictured above right) with one of the most spectacular sea views in Scotland, and an elegant dining room (right).

The Eisenhower Apartment is self contained on the top floor of the castle and can be reached by stairs or lift/elevator.

The rooms are arranged around Adam's magnificent central Oval Staircase (left).

Culzean Castle, Scotland, culzean@nts.org.uk, Tel: 44 1655 884455, Fax: 44 1655 884503

Photographs © National Trust for Scotland, John Boyd-Brent. Culzean Castle is hosted by About Scotland.