The vast Georgian stately home of Culzean (pronounced kul-LAYN) is celebrated for the gentility of its design, and its marvellously wild and windswept clifftop setting on the Firth of Clyde – and for the arresting contrast between the two.

History

There have been fortifications of some sort here since the 12th century, but the present structure dates back to an 18th century remodelling by the celebrated architect Robert Adam.

He left much of the exterior to its medieval heritage – with battlements and arrow slits – but the interior is a Neo-Classical tour-de-force.

Adam was particularly renowned for his meticulous attention to details and a multitude of them decorate his ceilings and fireplaces everywhere. But his beautiful oval staircase – bathed in light from a cupola above – is the highlight. The contrast between the opulence and tidy symmetry of the first floor saloon and the wild sea views from its windows is also considered a masterstroke.