Avis Historic House & Gardens within a 2000 acre Ayrshire Estate

We had the absolute pleasure of staying at Carnell Estates, and it was an exceptional experience for my family and close friends. The property itself is breathtaking, with its stunning grounds and beautifully maintained historic charm. From the moment we arrived, we felt like we were being welcomed into a warm and inviting home. Adrienne and Mickey were amazing hosts, going above and beyond to make our stay special. Their entire staff was delightful, seeing to every need of our large group with ease and professionalism. One of the highlights was a traditional haggis ceremony arranged by Adrienne, complete with a piper and a Robert Burns poet—such a unique and memorable touch! She also arranged a Scottish folk band with dance instruction, which brought so much fun and joy to our evening. The care and attention to detail at Carnell Estates made our time there truly unforgettable. We can't wait to return for another visit!

It’s hard to put into words how amazing this stay was. The home is historic and beautiful, the grounds are gorgeous, and the people were kind and attentive. Way beyond a five star stay. Lifetime experience. Thanks

Everything was perfect - what a treat to stay here!

What an absolutely fabulous place. Adrienne and her wonderful hardworking team could not do enough for our party of 18. From the entire booking process/communication with Adrienne that involved extensive dietary requirements, plus the organisation of activities including clay pigeon shooting, archery and air rifling, professional whisky tasting, arranging a piper and having an official Robbie Burns address to the haggis superbly undertaken by Barney. There was wonderful food constantly provided by our superb chef, all served by friendly and attentive staff and there was never anything that was too much trouble, the level of service was such that they were always there for us but kept a quiet distance so we felt super comfortable. All bedrooms and en-suites were fabulous, the dining room magnificent and the beautiful hallway and drawing rooms with their fabulous fireplaces. A special thank you to MJ who was a star at getting red wine out of shirts, jumpers and carpets and for being so patient with us. Thank you all SO much for such a wonderful experience over Hogmanay, we will never forget it, the Loader/Davey/Sullivan family

Where to begin? We had booked the Carnell Estate property for a family reunion 6 months previously with lofty expectations. Adrienne and Micky, our hosts, made sure that all our expectations were exceeded!. It was spectacular; the surroundings, the manor, the food, the staff, and fortunately the weather. Our family re-connected in exactly the way I had hoped. It was truly a memorable trip, and we are incredibly grateful to have had this experience.

We are just leaving beautiful Carnell… 10 friends, spent a week, and every minute was heaven! Adrienne and her staff make you feel at home in this incredible estate. We have never had a chef that prepared such delicious meals… Even haggis! You will love it here… So sad to leave.

Carnell exceeded all expectations! The estate was wonderful, the staff was exemplary, The food was incredible. Adrienne was so helpful we couldn't have done it without her.

The estate and the mansion/castle are everything advertised...incredibly comfortable, luxurious and historic and more. However, we were really overwhelmed with the service, the staff and the proprietors. They went above and beyond every day with gourmet food, flexibility when our plans or the weather shifted. Just when we thought we had experienced the best, Four Seasons' level of service, we were positively surprised again. Thank you Adrienne, Mickey, Lewis, Lorna and the rest of the staff! We will be back!

Carnell was the perfect spot for our Scotland trip. In Mickey's family for 700 years, the historic estate is beautiful, and Adrienne and Mickey are wonderful hosts. The lovely and helpful staff, especially MJ, made our visit so relaxing. There are too many activities available to count. During our stay we rode Clydesdales on the beach in Ayr, enjoyed multiple hacks on Gypsy Vanners on the estate, visited castles and spent an afternoon at the Highland Games, happened upon a Robert Burns World Federation meeting in Kilmarnock and were invited to attend, visited the Isle of Arran and climbed Goatfell mountain, took a steam train to the highlands, went fly fishing and clay pigeon shooting, had afternoon tea in Glasgow, shopped an impossible number of thrift stores looking for hidden treasures, and even had our marriage blessed over the anvil in Gretna Green. We looked forward to the chef's delicious dinners at the estate, and Adrienne even arranged a Scottish evening with a harpist, a piper, and a Burns recitation on our penultimate night. Those in our party who preferred less activity during the day spent time relaxing on the estate and enjoying the multi-course catered lunches. There is something for everyone, and the weather was a welcome change for all from our muggy, Virginia summer. We can't say enough good things about the trip and our new friends Adrienne and Mickey.

The idiosyncrasies that come with a home of this age are part of the charm of staying in such a piece of living history. Unlike many estates throughout Europe and UK, Carnell has not been stripped bare of it’s family treasures. Small heirlooms of crystal, porcelain and silver are everywhere, mixed in with family photos and artwork. The grounds are beautifully maintained with an endless array of places to explore. The house itself is as impressive from the outside as the inside and very photogenic. There is exotic wildlife everywhere. While formal in initial appearance, the atmosphere is anything but stuffy; the addition of Micky and Adrienne’s 3 dogs, and the occasional appearance of Micky at cocktail hour added warmth and familiarity. Service: This was a surprise in that it exceeded our already high expectations. Adrienne has experience in hospitality and it really shows. She and Micky have assembled a team which is second to none. Our family is very casual so it was important that the service did not feel intimidating or stuffy. Each member of the team felt like family after 7 days. There were simply too many small details to mention here. They were amazing. Likewise, the chef did an outstanding job in providing a full immersion into Scottish culture. The staff was present from early in the morning to late in the evening to ensure every detail was attended to, from the starting of the fire to welcome everyone in the morning to meeting every need until all had retired in the evening. Communication: Adrienne’s attention to detail is impressive. She listens to what you have to say, and then makes it happen. We had many special requests throughout our stay and each was accommodated without having to ask twice. Over the years we have dealt with many of the best concierges in the world. Adrienne’s communication skills are truly unsurpassed when compared with this high standard. Value: Although Carnell is certainly an expensive proposition for a family of 20+ people it does represent a good value for the level of service you receive. We left the experience feeling that we got more than our money’s worth. Conclusion: We had a very specific vision in mind for the family and Carnell delivered on that vision, meeting and exceeding our expectations on every level.