Ardlochan Lodge - Culzean Castle

Ardlochan Lodge is a superb place to stay.

I can’t rate it highly enough. The whole NT site is brilliant. If I was going to nit pick it would be re loss of wardrobe in main bedroom. There are hook/peg things now to hang your clothes up on but I didn’t bring clothes hangers. Maybe mention, bring clothes hangers? The lodge and Culzean site are so worth a stay. Thanks Susan

Comfortable accommodation in a beautiful location.

So close to the beach and many great walks. Culzean is a wonderful place to stay. Sykes can be slow to respond to queries and on occasion no response.

Property top class and upgrades first class.

Everything provided gor a comfortable stay. All of the castle staff are so freindly. Great will be back.

We love Ardlochan Lodge for its quaint style but modern comfort.

It's situation beside the beach is perfect for dog walks and the large enclosed garden is dog friendly too We have stayed here regularly and look forward to booking it again soon.

Teddy the cavapoo here and I would like to say that I had a great holiday at Ardlochan Lodge.

There is easy access to the large sandy beach which I loved -perfect for playing fetch! The lodge is at the bottom of the park so my humans and I had lots of lovely long walks in the grounds, with a short stop for them to have a drink at the dog friendly cafe. My humans said that everything in the cottage was great although the floor was a bit gritty when we arrived, which they quickly fixed. My humans said that they would recommend this lodge, and I would totally agree with that! I eagerly look forward to coming back again.

We have stayed at Ardlochan Lodge several times - it is a little gem in the wonderful grounds of Culzean Castle.

Our arrival was delayed by a couple of days due to Storm Amy, but both Alex at National Trust Scotland and Katie, a member of the team at the castle were both so helpful in keeping us up to date which we greatly appreciated. The cottage is cosy, homely and situated next to a beach, as well as allowing access to the beautiful castle grounds. A fence has been added since we were last there, enclosing the large garden - great for the dogs and we noticed the bathroom has been upgraded. Overall, the NTS keep this property in good order and updated. Thank you NTS again for another wonderful stay.

Wonderful stay.

We stayed last year and loved but few changes have made this stay perfect, new fence was brilliant for the dogs, the new sofa was lovely and comfy and the new shower was brilliant and the blind on the door made it perfect! Thanks so much. Culzean is a beautiful place to visit and stay.

The lodge was perfect for us.

Situated at the edge of the estate so no passing cars. 30 second walk to the beach. Well equipped but the sitting room was far too hot, turning the thermostat down didn't seem to work. It was lovely and quiet during the night. Beautiful surroundings. Would love to return one day.

It would be helpful if fold up chairs which could be used in the garden were available.

A tray for carrying drinks etc would be useful.

The cottage was immaculate, well-equipped and extremely comfortable in a quiet location which suited us very well.

We appreciated the underfloor heating since the weather was cold. The garden was expansive and the beautiful beach easily accessible from the cottage. The facilities at Culzean Country Park were outstanding. Our only disappointment was that the Castle was closed until the end of March for cleaning and refurbishment. We had a fabulous holiday at Ardlochan Lodge and we’d love to come back to stay there. Thank you for a wonderful break.

Delightful setting, the location perfect.

Well equipped and beautifully warm. Just a few issues which would maybe stop us rebooking, which are 1 the two sofas were incredibly uncomfortable, no back support and v hard seats 2 the kitchen needs to be reconfigured to provide more storage space for food. 3. The bathroom is v tired with some water damage to bath panel and door frame. A second bathroom and possibly a separate toilet, would be great but tricky to build in now

The property is lovely and an amazing place to stay in the grounds of Culzean Castle estate.

50 meters from the beach and fantastic walks in the estate gave us loads to do over the week. Property is very cosy with underfloor heating. The electric shower isn't great as the property has separate hot water. The sofas are not comfortable and the access road to the property in the last 200m is in need of minor repairs as very bumpy to drive over. Overall we had a fab stay and would love to come back again.

Our second stay at Ardlochan Lodge- we couldn't wait to return.

Our cosy cottage set in the grounds of the gorgeous Culzean Castle. Two minutes walk to the beach - the dogs loved it. We'll be back.....soon, I hope!

Lovely little cottage situated in the park and 2 minutes from the beach.

Very cosy and warm with comfortable beds and everything we needed. We would suggest a grab handle for the shower for safety getting in and out, but other than that everything was great. Loved the underfloor heating!

We stayed at the lodge over Easter weekend.

The property is in a gorgeous location, we were able to walk around the castle grounds at leisure and it's just a few minutes to the beach. Plenty of outside space and generally comfortable inside. During our stay there was a significant problem with an ant infestation. Ants were on most kitchen surfaces, bathroom, bedroom. We were able to keep them reasonably under control with regular vacuuming during our stay but it was rather unpleasant, particularly around the food and we had to give all of our belongings a thorough clean upon our return.

Perfect holiday place.

Lovely and cast with the underfloor heating. Beach and country park walks were on our doorstep. It was a nice touch to leave some milk and apple juice at the door one morning. Only possible gripe I would have is that the couches weren’t that comfortable but that’s just our opinion. Would highly recommend it.

Please can there be the facility to turn the underfloor heating off at night.

The manual controls made little difference and we slept badly as a result.

A repeat stay at a wonderful property located in an excellent location with great facilities well looked after and presented.

The shower would do with updating and benefit from an increase in pressure. Additional security lighting on the driveway and too the front door over and above what is already installed.

The estate was fantastic & the cottage only approx 220 yards from a lovely beach, so peaceful & quiet.

The only reason we didn't give top marks for the cottage was it was advertised as an enclosed garden & it was far from being enclosed - no fencing over large sections of the garden along the front of the cottage - not ideal when there is a main path were visitors walk past with dogs multiple times a day.

Everything top notch, the only glitch being the underfloor heating was a little too hot.

Ardlochan Lodge is a really lovely Cottage.

Very well equipped and maintained. The location is second to none. Situated in the lovely grounds of Calzean Castle

The only very slight issue was the underfloor heating, it seemed to be on well into the night.

The rooms became far too warm for comfort and you can't reasonably open bedroom windows because of their design, they rattle like crazy with the wind. I know the heating system is on a programme timer and there's thermostats in each room, but with every thermostat turned down completely, the heating still raged on through the evening and night time. Apart from the cost to the owner, it would be better if each thermostat worked properly and were connected to the heating system. These could then be adjusted individually by the oc upants as and when required.

We would have appreciated some information on how to - work the TV, manage the shower, work the coffee maker,stop the dripping kitchen tap.

The CD radio The cost of the renovation of this property was met by the profit from the book shop - pity nobody thought about leaving the instructions. The property was really amazing with a bit more thought it could be outstanding ! Sykes charges are excessive and paying insurance is ridiculous.

Overall, the setting is fantastic, especially if you have dogs.

The castle grounds are extensive and keep you entertained. Facilities are all that’s required at the cottage itself (would be top stars if an additional toilet could be fitted between the 2 bedrooms). The only slight issues we had with regard to the facilities is the sensitivity of the shower temperature (seems best on Eco setting), other than that it has all you need (Perhaps a new frying pan). Would definitely recommend this property. Note that nearest shops/pubs are not really walking distance

Fantastic cottage situated on the Culzean Castle estate, with a short walk to the beach.

The cottage has everything you need to make your stay a comfortable one. It was great to take the dog with us, who throughly enjoyed her many walks! The shower pressure and temperature really needs investigating, many others say the same so slightly disappointing that no one has rectified it by now.

Excellent cottage comfortable,clean and lovely location.

Would have benefited from having a sieve in the kitchen to strain vegetables,and more comfortable garden seating other than the hard picnic table. (a few fold up chairs could be stored in the boiler cupboard). Given that coffee/tea provided it would also have been very useful to have salt/pepper provided as one needs these essentials for cooking and its not something one usually buys for a holiday cottage. Thanks

The cottage was great.

The location was perfect, close to a lovely beach and in the grounds of Culzean Castle. The castle grounds are vast and beautiful, we spent a couple of days just exploring the grounds and visiting the castle. The cottage facilities were really good, with everything you could want for a holiday. The cottage was clean and warm which was lovely after a day out walking. There was a lovely garden which the dog loved, and we saw rabbits out there everyday which the children thought was great. The only issue was the shower did not work properly which was a bit annoying and we had to make do with baths. The shower heat control did not work it just made a clicking sound when you turned it. The shower alternated between boiling hot and freezing cold with no in between. I saw that this had been mentioned in previous reviews so it’s a shame it hadn’t been addressed by the time we visited. However, we still had a lovely time abc everything else was perfect.

Everything was very good.

Only the chairs and the couches were not comforteble fors us.

Outstanding accommodation completely exceeding expectations in the most idyllic location.

Without doubt one of the best holidays we have been fortunate to have. Clean, comfortable and very well equipped made for a stress free stay. Willow and Hamish were in there element having the beach right on the doorstep, along with the extensive walks available within the Castle estate. A return stay for sure!

We have just (reluctantly!

) returned from a fabulous week, walking in a beautiful area and relaxing in this lovely cottage. The cottage was extremely comfortable & very warm (too warm at times for us northerners!) but, most importantly to us, in an idyllic situation, not only being metres from the beach, but also having the whole of the fabulous Culzean Estate to wander through. We would suggest a couple of very minor niggles to easily correct to give absolute perfection in our view; the double duvet was too small for its cover & also not really big enough for 2, relatively small people. It would be helpful to know how to turn the heating down properly, especially at night to avoid the boiler constantly switching rather noisily on & off (this might be inevitable with a ground source pump, though?) A proper dishcloth/brush and some sort of pan scourer would be helpful rather than just an ineffective j-cloth (and would be more eco-friendly as could be washed & re-used!) Don't let these niggles put you off - it is a lovely cottage in a beautiful situation & well-priced in our view.

Absolutely fabulous lodge.

So warm and comfortable. Extremely clean and well equipped. Right on the beach and a short distance from all the walking trails through the woods. The dogs were in heaven. Shower was a bit fiddly to get to right temperature but managed in the end Will definitely go again

I loved this place.

So peaceful. Everything we wanted to do was on our doorstep. One little gripe. The shower. Boiling or freezing on a hair trigger which we couldn’t fathom. Thank you. A brilliant stay.

Fantastic cottage, fell in love as soon as we entered.

Great rural location which was exactly what we were looking for. A lovely period property that has been sympathetically modernised inside, very nicely done. The downside was the most uncomfortable beds I have ever come across. With all the wonderful walks with the dog through the woods and the beach we thought we would sleep deeply but no chance with those mattresses. Change the mattress and I would consider it 5stars.

Great wee cottage in a brilliant location.

Just 2 mins from the beach and miles of paths through different scenery through the estate. We didn’t really feel the need to leave the estate on our 5 day stay as there was so much to explore. The castle was really interesting and the staff were excellent! The cottage had everything we needed, nice set of sharp knives was a bonus! The beds could have been a little comfier, maybe a thicker mattress topper. Rooms were big, lots of storage and hair dryer provided. Big garden, not fully fenced off, but our dog isn’t a wanderer. Lovely quiet location although the paths run past the house but living space around the back do it didn’t bother us. We even had a deer come and visit the garden which was a treat. All in all, all four of us had a wonderful stay and would definitely book again.

Although this is an attractive cottage in a beautiful setting it has some serious deficiencies.

The underfloor heating did not appear working and there were no instructions. The pages in guest information folder are for North Segganwell Cottage not Ardlochan Lodge. Although the summary says “Fuel and power inc. in rent” this does not include fuel for the wood-burning stove so it would be helpful to make this clear. There is no bath safety rail to hold onto when using the shower. The flimsy chopping boards are curling up at the edges and move around when cutting bread or chopping food making them unsafe.

This was a terrific place to stay, wonderfully located.

Facilities were all that we needed and we would recommend it to others

We had a great holiday, helped by the mostly sunny weather.

We visit Culzean Castle quite a lot as we are NT Members. The location is excellent, 200yds from the beach and in the forrest, ideal for exploring. The cottage is very good, but some things could be improved: - The bathroom still needs attention (see previous reviews) - shower temperature control, signs of leakage on side of bath, shower glass panel not sealing against wall, etc. - No clear instructions for recycling (need signs at bins) and no recycling of food waste - Eventually managed to figure out how to work heating/hot water, but clearer instructions would be helpful - It looks like it it has not been decorated in quite a while, some areas have badly scuffed paint.

For £200 per night, we would have expected better.

The sofas were uncomfortable and one sofa was not fit for purpose, the cushions moved and the sofa itself moved everytime you sat down or got up. The beds were spartan and the pillows poor. No pictures anywhere creatating a stark appearence. There was only one toilet roll. A soft close toilet seat would have been nice.

Very clean and well presented on arrival.

The lodges facilities were good quality and we had everything we needed and more for a great holiday. The location is superb, close to the beach, the play parks and castle, everything else is only a short drive away.

Location excellent, appreciated the warm bathroom, a plumber is needed as water is constantly running into the toilet bowl, this was happening last August when we stayed, the bath panel needs attention as looking very black with damp, nice hot shower though.

Also the sofas and cushions could do with a clean. Apart from this we had an excellent stay, the Culzean Estate is great, so much to do.

We had a great stay at Ardlochan Lodge - a beautiful place in an even more beautiful surrounding!

The cottage had everything we needed for a perfect holiday apart from - and that's why I only gave four stars - the shower which was either hot (way too hot) or cold. Taking a bath solved that but there was not enough hot water to fill the bath tub completely, so for the kids alright but not for us. Nevertheless - great place!

Was great location and warm & COSY Great walks for us and dog.

Weather could have been better but location and accommodation made upfor. Will look to revisit at some future date

First time I have stayed at Ardlochan cottage but iv been coming to Culzean since the 80’s as a child and iv stayed in all the rentable cottages on the estate.

It’s a lovely cottage inside and out. It’s a lot bigger inside than the others. The underfloor heating is a lovely bonus. The outside back garden is private from view as you do have visitors/walkers go by as it’s so near to the beach. Handy to also have a drive for your car so it’s easier to unpack/pack. Other cottages have a bit of a walk from the car park spaces. Other visitors who have left reviews about the hot water are correct. There does seem to be an issue with the hot water if you have multiple baths/showers one after another as the water goes from hot to cold. We got around this issue being a party of 4 (my parents in their 60’s and my son) having morning or evening showers to let the water heat up again. I didn’t find a problem with the wifi. I know others have commented on this. I logged into the cottage wifi. Password can be found in the black cottage file. I was able to connect my iphone and my kindle fire to access the internet, order something online and upload photos to social media in the kitchen/living area. The signal was weaker in the twin bedroom and outside which is to be expected. The back garden is a sun trap on the right day. We were lucky enough to be able to experience this. There is a lot of wildlife in the garden which is lovely to watch. The only issue with the garden is it’s not 100% fenced which might put some people off but it is stated on the information about the property that this is the case and that dogs might escape. We didn’t have an issue with our dog escaping but we did have a dog access the garden and try to come into the property, this didn’t happen as our dog saw to that. Obviously this wasn’t ideal as we had a 2.5yr old and our own dog. It’s very quiet and 2 minutes from the beach. It’s near to a lovely wood and the children's outdoor play area and swan pond. It’s a bit of a walk if you have younger children or elderly to the cafe and visitor centre compared to some of the other cottages. But it was perfect for our party as my son loves to walk. My parents said it’s their favourite cottage on the estate and would love to stay here again due to the size of the cottage and the outside space. Overall an amazing stay in a beautiful setting/cottage which has so many positives. We will definitely be back soon.

Comfortable and clean.

Having read previous reviews we took some logs with us for the fire but hardly needed them as the underfloor heating worked so well. However, we could have done with a couple of extra blankets for the beds at night, and it definitely needs a better shower.

Loved this place.

Tucked away near the beach (literally 2 min) overlooking Ailsa Craig on the grounds of Culzean Country Park, but away from the crowds , The lodge itself is right next to guided walks through the forest and along the coast. The blue walk is breathtaking. The lodge was immaculately clean when we arrived. Although self catering we weren't short of anything. Has everything you need such as microwave, massive fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. We made full use of the log burner (take your own) Its a perfect base for exploring the South Ayrshire countryside. The wifi is a bit slow but it didnt cause an issue. What i did notice was how little light pollution there is in this part of the world. When it goes dark, it really goes dark. Overall we really loved it here and will definitely come back.

I loved my holiday, it was a great pick me up after becoming a single mum.

I’ve stayed at the castle every year since I was a little child and now love taking my son. This year was his second time and he was running round this time. The only thing I’d say for improvements is child locks on the cupboards and draws

Great location, comfortable accommodation, lovely and clean and warm.

Two things to improve the experience would be 1) The sofas need replacing with non fabric ones as although they were clean they did omit an unpleasant odour probably due to frequent use and possibly people allowing wet dogs to sit on them. 2) A better hot water system as although the property has a bath there is only enough hot water to fill the bath a few inches hence not possible to take a bath all week. This aside the lodge is a wonderful place to stay and as always the staff on site were helpful and keen to assist their guests.

Lovely cottage in a fantastic location, with the beach just a short stroll away and the whole of the Culzean Estate to explore.

This was it’s saving grace as unfortunately the facilities and welcome were severely lacking; it felt like camping at times! On arrival, the cottage was freezing cold as all the windows had been left open. We were also without power for 6 hours on the second day, meaning no hot water for the power shower and no way of cooking as the oven and hub are electric. The beds and sofas were all extremely uncomfortable and there was no rug in the living area so it was hard to find somewhere comfortable to relax. Pictures and other home comforts seemed to have been removed, making it feel very basic indeed. Sadly, we didn’t feel very welcome: only very basic information was provided, there was no welcome pack, no starter logs for the woodburner and no details of where to buy them, not even a pint of milk or single teabag to make a drink when we arrived. The kitchen was also lacking basic essentials such as handwash, washing up liquid, foil/cling film, bin bags, not even any kitchen scissors! It felt like the emphasis was entirely on COVID safety and that we were an inconvenience for wanting to stay there. Such a shame as it really is a beautiful location

Great stay.

Lovely property and location. Nice and quiet and so close to the beach. Great having access to the whole Culzean estate. EV car charger at Home Farm also helpful. Superb location. Being picky, here are a few minor things that could be improved: toilet cistern had a fault and every hour or so it would do a short refill ( a little irritating at night). Telly/SatBox instructions not present and operation not very intuitive. Would have been nice to have some more info on what we could recycle. As a wheelchair user property was manageable too. We had a lovely stay.