---
title: "Lochinch Castle, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway · Rampant Scotland"
description: "Lochinch Castle is the home of the Earl and Countess of Stair whose ancestor, Sir James Dalrymple of Stair, inherited Castle Kennedy and the surrounding estates"
canonical: "https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/castles/blcastles_lochinch.htm"
last-updated: "2026-11-11"
date-basis: "git-content-change"
---

# Lochinch Castle, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway · Rampant Scotland

Castles

# Lochinch Castle, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway

[Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20220817221639/http://www.rampantscotland.com/castles/blcastles_lochinch.htm)

Restored from the raw archived page capture: original scripts, advertisements and shared site navigation removed. Original wording, photographs and layout order preserved.

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** Lochinch Castle is the home of the Earl and Countess of Stair whose ancestor, Sir James Dalrymple of Stair, inherited [Castle Kennedy](https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/castles/blcastles_kennedy.htm) and the surrounding estates from the Kennedy Earls of Cassillis (pronounced "Cassells") in 1677. Sir James was a distinguished lawyer who was President of the Court of Session. He was created Viscount Stair in 1690 and died five years later. His son, John, became 2nd Viscount Stair (and later Earl of Stair). He was also a lawyer who became Lord Advocate for Scotland and then Principal Secretary of State. It was the Earl of Stair who signed the infamous orders that resulted in the Massacre of Glencoe early on the morning of 13 February, 1692.

Castle Kennedy was destroyed by fire in 1716 and the family moved to Culhorn, near Stranraer. The 3rd Earl of Stair (who was a Field Marshall and was an Ambassador to France), was inspired by the royal gardens at Versailles near Paris and took a great interest in remodelling the gardens at Castle Kennedy. These are now open to the public and offer a magnificent collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and conifers as well as a large lily pond and a walled garden with many herbaceous plants.

In 1867, Lochinch Castle was built in the Castle Kennedy estate, looking over the White Loch towards the original castle. Although Lochinch was called a "castle", there was no need for fortifications, so it was created as a large, comfortable and opulent Victorian house. It had all the modern facilities available at that time and was fully self-sufficient, pumping its own gas for lighting and with a laundry, dairy and stables.

**

**Return to the Castles Photo Library [Index](https://web.archive.org/web/20220817221639/http://www.rampantscotland.com/castles/blcastles_index.htm)
or go to the next castle: [Loch Leven CastleLoch Leven Castle](https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/castles/blcastles_leven.htm)**.

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## Source

From Rampant Scotland, restored from the page as it stood on 17 August 2022. [Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20220817221639/http://www.rampantscotland.com/castles/blcastles_lochinch.htm).

Links to pages not yet restored here lead to the original page or elsewhere on the web; 2 of 3 links on this page are restored on this site.