The historic town of Maybole lies equidistant from the burghs of Ayr and Girvan in South Ayrshire. There is evidence of an early Anglian settlement and in the Middle Ages Maybole developed into an important economic, ecclesiastical and political centre. The style of architecture in the town reflects the tempestuous history of local rivalries and feuds, which encouraged the building of distinctive defensible townhouses, such as the surviving castle and the tollbooth. There was rapid industrial and economic growth in the 19th century, with new civic building, factory developments and residential expansion. The book fully explores the rapid changes of the last century and makes a detailed evaluation of the surviving evidence.

A must for all those who want to visit Scotland's many castles. The book covers all of the coutry's famous strongholds, as well as many lesser-known places, with location, access, visitor facilities, and contact details. There is a map, many photos, a glossary of architectural terms, and a family-name index, allowing the reader to identify any castle associated with their family.