Once considered a royal castle, nothing remains of it above ground.

[1] In 1197, the castle was built by King William the Lion of Scotland, who later in 1205 created a burgh at Ayr.

[1] The castle was captured by the Norwegian King Håkon Håkonsson and a substantial Norwegian army in 1263 which led to the Battle of Largs after which it returned to Scottish control.

[2] Robert the Bruce burned the castle in August 1298 in order to keep it out of the hands of the English.

[3] The castle in 1542 was garrisoned by French troops and appears to have been demolished before the Cromwellian occupation between 1650–1651.