Rowallan Castle
9.5 Ayrshire, Scotland
Overnight Accommodation
Sleeps 21 guests in 10 rooms. Optional accommodation for a further 8 guests
In the heart of Ayrshire’s rolling countryside and with breath-taking views across to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran, lies Rowallan Castle Estate offering a most spectacular setting for your wedding day and celebrations. An extraordinary backdrop for a wedding that feels both timeless and deeply personal, this 360-acre secluded setting is just 30 minutes from Glasgow International Airport.
Something ‘Old’ and Something ‘New’
You’re initially welcomed along a picturesque lush tree-lined drive, which hints at the beauty to come. Within Rowallan’s grounds stand two remarkable castles—the elegant 19th-century New Castle and the evocative 12th-century Old Castle, together creating a setting steeped in history, charm and timeless sophistication for both large-scale wedding celebrations and intimate gatherings.
The main castle, designed by the renowned architect Robert Lorimer, features stunning interiors and luxury accommodation for 21 overnight guests for your wedding day, providing the perfect setting for your celebrations. Picture yourself descending graceful staircases and making an entrance into sunlit reception rooms. Throughout the proceedings, guests can wander through manicured gardens, take in sweeping vistas and admire the undulating landscape of the renowned championship golf course.
At a Glance
- Two historic castles in one estate
- Flexible ceremony settings, indoor and outdoor, for up to 120 guests
- Versatile reception spaces, from intimate up to 300 guests
- Timeless backdrops, perfect for your photographs
- Easily accessible (30 minutes from Glasgow Airport)
Flexible Settings
Your wedding ceremony at Rowallan Castle can be tailored to be as opulent or as intimate as you desire. Choose from several distinctive spaces, each brimming with its own character, to best reflect your story and style.
Indoor ceremonies
The Ceremony Room in the Main Castle (up to 120 guests)
Combining an ornate plasterwork ceiling, oak panelling and natural light that dances off the refined herringbone floor, this elegant room seats up to 120 guests and can be decorated to suit your personal vision for the day.
The Library in the Main Castle (up to 25 guests)
This option offers a cosy alternative to the above for intimate weddings of up to 25 guests. Also featuring rich wood panelling, it showcases an open fireplace and walls of antique books creating an old-world ambiance.
Outdoor ceremonies
In Front of the New Castle
Either on the manicured croquet lawn or along the cobbled path that leads up to the main castle is a wonderful place to exchange your vows, each offering a castle backdrop and panoramic views stretching down the fairway.
On the Old Castle’s Steps
Take centre stage atop the ancient steps, where the castle, framed by turrets, forms a breath-taking backdrop, and up to 100 guests seated below enjoy an unobstructed view of every moment.
The Ancient ‘Marriage Tree’
This uniquely romantic and natural spot resides in the Old Castle’s courtyard, perfect for those seeking a meaningful ceremony steeped in history. Stand beneath the tree’s gracefully bowing branches, before the ancient stone wall, to exchange your vows in front of up to 60 guests.
Just a short walk away, the lovingly restored, award-winning Old Castle exudes a tangible sense of history, where historic features create an authentic and evocative atmosphere to befit your unique wedding ceremony.
Authentic and Elegant Wedding Reception
Your wedding reception at Rowallan Castle will unfold with effortless elegance, guiding guests from Champagne and canapés to dining, speeches and dancing. Choose your ideal setting:
The Ballroom
Seating up to 120 guests, the main castle’s Ballroom is the heart of the celebration, with its soaring windows, intricate ceiling mouldings and striking artwork. The room is bright, versatile and perfectly suited to both formal wedding dining and relaxed gatherings with close family and friends.
Glasshouse Restaurant
The award-winning, light and stylish restaurant just a two minute walk from the castle offers yet another memorable space within this captivating estate, ideal for intimate wedding receptions. Guests can be seated on banqueting tables with twinkling fairylights above. The stylish contemporary building complements the traditional castle settings.
The Croquet Lawn
This pretty and refined green space can accommodate a marquee for up to 300 guests and comes complete with a striking castle backdrop.
The Wedding Breakfast
A bespoke wedding breakfast menu, catered to your tastes, will be crafted by the castle’s head chef and an award-winning team. Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients are presented with elegance, from refined canapés and three-course wedding breakfasts to indulgent desserts. Wine pairings can be thoughtfully selected by the hospitality team to complement each course.
Dining experience highlights
- Ballroom for formal dining up to 120 guests
- Award-winning Glasshouse Restaurant for intimate celebrations
- Marquee receptions on scenic croquet lawn
- Locally sourced seasonal menus
- Bespoke menus and expert wine pairings
Into The Evening
Your festivities can continue until the small hours in Rowallan’s uniquely historic setting. Why not treat your guests by opting to have the cocktail bar set up in the Library with 100 signature cocktails, designed to cater for every taste?
As excitement builds, the Ballroom transforms into a vibrant dance floor for live music or a ceilidh, while late-night food keeps guests refreshed and ready to celebrate with you into the night.
As the light begins to fade, take a romantic stroll together and make the most of the stunning backdrops for your portrait photographs; from the balustraded stone terrace set before a façade of long sash windows, to the original grand arched castle doorway, to the serene woodland paths.
Evening celebration highlights
- Celebrate into the early hours in a historic setting
- Signature cocktails and late-night feasting
- Live music, Ceilidh or DJ on Ballroom dancefloor
Wedding Accommodation
Taking exclusive use of Rowallan Castle Estate for your wedding celebrations includes use of its eleven luxurious en-suite bedrooms located in the main castle. Sleeping up to 21 guests, they each brim with bespoke character and charming interior design, with calming colour palettes enhanced by tactile fabrics and antique furniture. Tea and coffee making facilities, snuggly bathrobes and deluxe toiletries add even more comfort for you and your overnight guests.
The Bridal Suite
A spacious sanctuary in which to prepare for the excitement of your special day. The bridal suite features sophisticated Louis-style armchairs, an abundance of natural light and ample space in which to dress and sip Champagne with your bridal party. Enveloped by soft cream walls and an exquisite plasterwork ceiling, an ornate Cupid, poised with bow and arrow, gracefully replaces the traditional ceiling rose - a striking and memorable backdrop for pre-ceremony photographs.
Additional Self-Catered Accommodation
For added convenience, the Old Castle accommodates up to eight guests in four bedrooms, two of which are en-suite. With exposed wooden beams, original stone walls, and self-catering facilities, these historic rooms offer a charming and atmospheric retreat for your wedding party.
Accommodation highlights
- Exclusive use of main castle’s eleven luxurious bedrooms
- Charming interiors with antique details and modern comforts
- Bridal suite with natural light and romantic period features
- 4 additional self-catered rooms in historic Old Castle
Enhancing Your Rowallan Wedding Experience
Golf
Rowallan Estate is home to a 19-hole championship golf course, views of which can be admired from the main castle. Why not elongate your wedding day by taking rooms the night before in the Old Castle and enjoying a friendly round of golf with your groomsmen?
Glasshouse Restaurant
For those guests staying on after your wedding day, the Glasshouse Restaurant with its contemporary style, attentive service and breath-taking countryside views, adds another dining option for you all to enjoy together.
A Sustainable Wedding
Couples who are keen to plan a wedding that’s both beautiful and environmentally conscious can celebrate in style while respecting the natural beauty that surrounds them.
Rowallan Estate has care for the environment at its heart, from farm-to-table catering using seasonal, local produce to eco-friendly operational practices. The wedding team can also offer you guidance on sustainable wedding choices - including flowers, stationery and confetti.
Prices
Rowallan Castle offers exclusive use of the castle and grounds, providing the flexibility to design your celebration exactly as you wish, whether it’s an intimate gathering or a larger wedding celebration.
As a Guide:
- Exclusive Hire – from £6,550 for midweek, off-peak dates.
- Three-course wedding meal – from £76.30 per person.
This approach allows you to tailor every element of your day, from timings and menus to guest numbers and entertainment, creating a completely bespoke experience at this beautiful Scottish castle.
Your final price will depend on your chosen date, guest numbers, and any additional services or enhancements you wish to include.
Get in touch and we’ll help you start planning your celebration at Rowallan Castle!
Location
Rowallan Castle Estate is situated within 600 acres of glorious and tranquil parkland in Ayrshire, three miles from its nearest main town, Kilmarnock.
Just 30 minutes from Glasgow and within easy reach of Glasgow International (30 minutes) and Prestwick (20 minutes) Airports, Rowallan Castle combines seclusion with superb accessibility.
It is also is close to Kilmarnock Bus Station and Kilmaurs and Stewarton Train Stations. Executive transport and helicopter landing are available on the estate.
Rowallan Castle lies close to the golden beaches of Troon, Ayr and Irvine, and is at the heart of Scotland’s famous golf coast. It is also within easy reach of heritage sites and attractions, such as Culzean Castle, Kilmaurs village and Dumfries House. Whether for championship golf, coastal walks or cultural exploration, Rowallan New Castle is ideal for discovering Scotland’s west coast.
Reviews
9.5
Our vision was perfectly executed, and nothing was too much trouble for Katy and the Rowallan Team! The ceremony was laid out exactly as we had asked, the day ran perfectly smoothly, the cocktails and food were incredible, the fireworks were perfectly liaised with the supplier without any time being spent on it by us, the rooms were ideal for a great night sleep, and we did not feel rushed to leave at all the next day. All of this gave us the fairy tale wedding we had dreamed of! The Rowallan team went above and beyond; they even accommodated a number of Bulgarian traditions (the country of origin of the bride), including accommodating traditional drinks to be provided to the guests. We have continued our special relationship with Rowallan since getting married, returning to have dinner at the Glasshouse on our anniversary every year
The main castle and surrounding estate provide the most picturesque backdrop for your big day and the facilities available make it all the more special. After a round of golf at the challenging but brilliant Rowallan Castle golf club the day before for the groomsmen, we rented out the old castle to host dinner and drinks for the wedding party. Would definitely recommend this and I’m sure we’ll be back to celebrate our anniversaries in the future. Our wedding day itself ran like clockwork with staff always at hand to help with any last minute requests. The staff were also incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the process. With the venue providing all of the bar and catering facilities there was really very little for us to do on the day other than enjoy ourselves.
We have just returned from the most magical weekend at Rowallan Castle for my daughter's wedding. Katy and her team organised it so well and you really could not be in a more romantic spot. I would recommend the castle for weddings and events for really special moments. We rented the Old Castle for the night before and it was amazing. All the rooms are beautiful. If you are looking for an ideal venue I would definitely recommend Rowallan Castle.