Fishing

Blairquhan Estate has five miles of what is perhaps the most attractive stretch on the River Girvan. There are 29 named pools and fishing is on both banks, except for 3 pools at the downstream end.

Fishing is available during the season, and is payable by the day. Fly only is allowed, though in very heavy water worm can be fished at the discretion of the gamekeeper.

Waders are not required and a two-handed rod of around 11 foot should be sufficient to cover the river. All the pools are within half a mile of a hard road.

The River Girvan is a spate river and ideal fishing conditions cannot be guaranteed. Recently the best months have been August, September and October (the season is from mid March to the end of October).

Tree Trail

There is a tree trail with many interesting varieties.

There are beautiful views across the Approach Loch to the hills. This is a wonderful place for summer lunches or barbecues.

Loch Fishing

There are 2 lochs on the estate. The Garden Pond is available to fish for holiday cottage guests without charge. The Approach Loch has 2 boats, is most attractive and is stocked with brown and rainbow trout. The annual catch is nearly 600 trout weighing up to about four pounds.

The Garden

The gardens were laid out by John Tweedie (1775-1862), a native of Lanarkshire who worked at Castlehill in Ayr and in 1816 came to work at Blairquhan. Afterwards he laid out the gardens at Eglinton Castle and, in 1825, he emigrated to Argentina where he became a leading agriculturist and plant-hunter.

Unusually there are only three walls, the fourth wall being unnecessary because of the rising ground to the South. The main wall is pierced by flues so that it could be heated to protect the fruit trees in frosty weather.

The glasshouse is the original one built in 1820, though the glass panes have been replaced.