Situation
Kirkmichael House enjoys a private, almost secret setting on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Kirkmichael. The mansion house is secluded by surrounding woodland and is set in its own grounds of approximately 55 acres which include a beautiful five acre stocked loch with a jetty.
The historic village of Kirkmichael lies approximately 10 miles south of Ayr and is a strikingly attractive small village set amidst the rolling hills of South Ayrshire. The village church dates back to 1787 and the village focuses on two intersecting streets, largely comprising of white harled cottages formerly built for hand weavers in the 1790’s. In recent times Kirkmichael became famous for its role as the venue for the Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival which lasted fromm 1999 to 2005. Kirkmichael became Scotland’s guitar village and played host to thousands of music lovers from around the world.
Ayr is Ayrshire’s foremost town and, as such, offers a good range of high street shops, supermarkets, recreational and professional facilities. In addition there are a number of well renowned restaurants and excellent private schooling at Wellington School for children from ages three to eighteen.
The Ayrshire coast is famous worldwide for golf with championship courses at Royal Troon, Turnberry (the venue for the British Open in 2009) and Old Prestwick (the original home of the British Open). There is also excellent sailing with yachting marinas at Troon and further up the coast at Largs and Inverkip. There is excellent shooting on nearby estates. The South West of Scotland is noted for its field sports including pheasant, partridge and grouse shooting. Red, roe and fallow deer stalking is also available.
Prestwick Airport is just to the north of Ayr and has services to London Stansted and many European destinations, while Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport provide a wider range of domestic, European and international flights.
Description
Kirkmichael House is a beautiful Category B listed country mansion which dates back to the 17th century. The core of the present mansion is an 18th century house enlarged in the Victorian era when the baronial style keep was added and crowstepped wings extended on either side, The adjacent Victorian school house was built around 1860. Historically the property was owned by the Kennedy family and the Kennedy crest is clearly visible on the front elevation of Kirkmichael House.
Kirkmichael House was described thus in the Ayrshire directory of 1838: “The property of Colonel Shaw Kennedy, is an excellent and commodious family residence. Contiguous is a natural lake of five acres extent, which shows to great advantage from the house. The extensive and judicious improvements lately made on the grounds will serve to beautify a spot, in itself of great natural amenity. There are some splendid trees within the policy, and very thriving plantations throughout the estate.”
By the early 1920’s Kirkmichael House had been converted into a miners’ welfare home which closed in the 1950’s. Recently Kirkmichael House has been lovingly restored to an exacting standard, original features have been reinstated and the house has been equipped for 21st century living.
Laid out on four floors the accommodation is as shown in the accompanying photographs and layout plans. All main apartments have been redecorated and restored, natural light flooding the rooms and highlighting the decoration, ornate plaster cornicing and feature fireplaces which provide a centrepiece for many of the apartments. Recent additions include a decked balcony accessed from the drawing room and designed to take full advantage of the views over the lake and woodland beyond.
Policies, Parkland and Woodland
The grounds and gardens surrounding Kirkmichael House have been landscaped for centuries and provide a superb balance of formal and natural gardens with obvious attention being paid to the elaborate planting and the flow of the gardens leading to the loch. The beautiful parkland setting includes some outstanding specimens of trees which provide colour as well as shelter and privacy.
The five acre loch is located to the south of Kirkmichael House and has been carefully restored by the current owners who have added a jetty and upgraded the surrounding pathways. The loch is stocked with fish and provides a gloriously picturesque backdrop to Kirkmichael House.
Fishing
The gardens and the grounds surrounding Kirkmichael House extend down to the River Girvan on which there are exclusive rights to fish for salmon and trout. Part of the fishing is double bank and the remaining part single bank.
Salmon fishing has not been heavily exploited at Kirkmichael. For more information please contact the selling agents.
Directions
From Glasgow head south along the M77 and continue beyond Kilmarnock onto the A77. Continue beyond Ayr following the bypass and on leaving the village of Minishant, turn left onto the B7045 signposted Kirkmichael. When entering the village of Kirkmichael bear right and continue along the B7045 turning right at the gates into Kirkmichael House. Continue beyond the lodge house through private electric gates which form the access to Kirkmichael House.
