Hunterston Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland

Hunterston Castle is on the coast NW of West Kilbride, N Ayrshire (on the coast SW of Glasgow), SW Scotland, see map and close-up.
This is a strategic location at the mouth of the Clyde, the main sea access to Glasgow.

Hunterston Castle.
Photo 2007 by Wayne Evans.
Light adjusted digitally. See larger and original.

The original Hunter lands were Ardneil (or "Arnele" or "Arnell" or "Arnelle"). Ardneil Bay extends from West Kilbride towards Portencross on the S side of the Hunterston Peninsula. Ardneil is on the road between Portencross and West Kilbride, see map.

The present estate of Hunterston is to the N of this, to the NW of West Kilbride, see map.
The old spelling of the family was "Huntar", and the estate, "Huntarstown".
[Burkes LG] says that Hunter of Hunterston "owned the present estates as early as the time of Alexander II, King of Scotland" (reigned 1214-49).

Hunterston Castle first built 13th cent. by Hunter, Laird of Hunterston.
The 14th Laird built the Great Hall at Hunterston 1500.

The Hunterston Peninsula (the lands of the Castle) was zoned for industrialisation in the 20th cent, with a Compulsory Purchase Order in 1956 by the South of Scotland Electricity Board. A nuclear power station, "Hunterston B", was built on Hunterston lands on the sea side of the Castle, see map, start 1967, completed 1976.