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Kilhilt (site of)

Kilhilt was a tower house belonging to the Adair family however nothing of it now remains.

William or Ninian Adair of Kilhilt built the Castle of St. John in Stranraer around 1510. Ninian was married to Katherine Agnew, daughter of Patrick Agnew, Sheriff of Galloway and seems to have died by 1520. In 1520 or 1521 Ninian’s son, William, was underage and so some of his inheritance was placed in the care of Gilbert Kennedy, 2nd Earl of Cassilis. Later William would marry the 2nd Earl’s daughter, Helen.

The younger William was succeeded by his son, Ninian. Ninian’s son, also named William, married Rosina MacClellan of Galston, sister of Sir Robert McClellan of MacLellan’s Castle, in 1580 and in the 1590s Ninian’s daughter, Elizabeth, married John Kennedy of Greenan, Creichan and Balneil, natural son of the 3rd Earl of Cassilis. Their son, Gilbert Kennedy of Aryewlane, would marry Helen Adair, grand-daughter of William Adair and Helen Kennedy, around 1603, so cementing the Adairs’ connection with the Earls of Cassilis.

Ninian died in 1608 and is said to have been succeeded by his son, William who died in 1626 having moved to Ballymadoss in County Antrim, Ireland, presumably as part of the Plantation of Ulster. William was succeeded by eldest son, Sir Robert Adair of Kilhilt. Sir Robert’s two sons, William and Archibald, both moved to Ireland and so his daughter Isobel seems to have inherited Kilhilt. Isobel married Patrick Macdowall of Logan around 1649 and died in 1678.

The last remains of Kilhilt were removed around 1933.

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Alternative names for Kilhilt

Gilhelt; Kilhelt; Kilhill; Kilhist; Kinhill; Kinhilt; Kylnnahelt; Kynhilt

Surnames associated with Kilhilt

Adair

Where is Kilhilt?

Kilhilt is in the parish of Portpatrick and the county of Wigtownshire.

Grid reference: NX 0593 5583

Lat / long: 54.8595120, -5.0251920

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OS Map for Kilhilt

OS map 309
Stranraer & The Rhins
OS Explorer map 309


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Directions to Kilhilt

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Weather at Kilhilt

14°C
max 14°C / min 14°C
12km/h NNW
1025mb
75%
24%
04:14 20:18

Few clouds
Weather observed at Stranraer at 17:17
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References (books)

The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Kilhilt

Garthland Castle (site of)

1.9km away

Kildonan (site of)

3.9km away

Castle of St. John

5.0km away

Freugh (site of)

5.2km away

Dunaldboys

5.6km away

Dunskey Castle

6.0km away

Balgreggan Mote

6.5km away

Balgreggan House (site of)

6.5km away

Balgreggan (site of)

6.6km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Kilhilt

Dunaldboys fort

5.6km away

Fox Plantation cursus

5.7km away

Cults Loch 1 crannog

7.7km away

Cults Loch souterrain

7.9km away

Dunragit cursus

9.2km away

Teroy Fort broch

9.2km away

Doon Castle broch

11.2km away

Craigenholly souterrain

13.1km away

Stairhaven broch

15.1km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Kilhilt

Eggerness Class I rock carving

43.4km away

Trusty's Hill Class I rock carving

52.8km away

Dunadd Class I rock carving

139.4km away

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

150.1km away

Old Kilmadock 2 Class I symbol stone

160.4km away

Old Kilmadock 1 Class II cross slab

160.5km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

161.0km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

168.2km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

168.6km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Kilhilt

Whitecleugh silver chain

99.0km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

133.3km away

Borland silver chain

135.4km away

Whitlaw silver chain

171.7km away

Haddington silver chain

188.3km away

Traprain Law silver chain

194.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

203.1km away

Norrie's Law hoard

204.1km away

Torvean silver chain

293.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Kilhilt

Fernlea Guest House
bed and breakfastStranraer
4.3km away
Cross Haven Guest House
bed and breakfastStranraer
4.6km away
Abonny Guest House
bed and breakfastStranraer
4.6km away
The Thistle Inn
hotelStranraer
4.6km away
Knockinaam Lodge
hotelPortpatrick
4.7km away
Lakeview Guest House
hotelStanraer
5.2km away
Balyett Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastInnermessan
6.5km away
Tigh Na Mara Hotel
hotel, restaurantSandhead
6.8km away
Rhins of Galloway
hotelCairnryan
10.5km away
The Homestead Guest House
bed and breakfastCairnryan
11.7km away

Accommodation search

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holiday parks
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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Kilhilt

Tigh Na Mara Hotel
hotel, restaurantSandhead
6.8km away
ReadingLasses
café, self-catering apartmentWigtown
37.3km away
Turnberry Resort
hotel, restaurant, barTurnberry
52.1km away
Selkirk Arms Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barKirkcudbright
62.3km away
King's Arms Hotel, Castle Douglas
hotel, restaurant, barCastle Douglas
70.6km away
Mercure Ayr Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantAyr
71.4km away
Best Western Kinloch Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barIsle of Arran
74.1km away
Premier Inn Ayr A77 / Racecourse
hotel, restaurantAyr
74.2km away
The Marine Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barTroon
78.5km away
Adamton House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barPrestwick
78.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 11th of June 2012 at 12:16 am. Updated on the 24th of May 2020 at 10:25 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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