Pilot reviews of Castle Kennedy Airfield

“Flew into Castle Kennedy once again on 26 May leading Westair's (Blackpool) annual fly-in to Oban. Castle Kennedy has become our regular stopping-off point outbound and it just gets better each year. This year, the Plantings Inn was between landlords and it was suggested by the airfield owner that we instead went to the cafe in Castle Kennedy gardens. We took 8 aircraft in (using Safety Comm) and the 14th Earl of Stair himself picked us up in an ex-army truck and relayed the 26 crew and passengers to the cafe in the grounds of Castle Kennedy gardens. Wonderful, friendly and memorable. In fact, so good that I went back the next day with my wife and our dogs and spent the day walking around the grounds and the gardens - a super day out which I can highly recommend to all. Very highly recommended!”

“Flew into Castle Kennedy on 27th for a golf weekend in Port Patrick.

Owners couldnt have been more helpful before and during our stay.

The airfield is very basic and fairly rough out with the newly tarred areas however our TB9 managed it fine.

Climb out of 08 was interesting with 500 ft hill directly in your windscreen. Plently of space to turn away if you cant make the climb.

Port Patrick is about a £10/20 min taxi ride. If you have the time and inclination then I would thoroughly recommend a visit to one of the pubs on the harbour front.

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“Went to Castle Kennedy once more on 13th May for another of our annual Westair (Blackpool) fly-outs. Due to truly awful weather at Blackpool as far up as Workington, only three of our aircraft made it to Castle Kennedy. However, the airfield was as lovely as ever and the Plantings Inn as friendly, accommodating and welcoming as it has always been.

The runway is definitely looking better than ever and if there was ever an airfield which you should get into your log book, this is it! Try the food at the Plantings Inn and you will not be disappointed.

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“Visited Castle Kennedy again on 14th May en-route to Oban. Stair Estates put out a wind-sock and had someone to meet us at the airfield which has just had some of the runway re-surfaced.

We took morning coffee at the adjacent Plantings Inn. Home-made shortbread, scones, jam and cream and the warmest welcome possible. The landlord even came out to the runway to see us off as we departed!

This airfield is getting better and better and deserves our support. They could not have been more helpful in arranging for a visit by eight aircraft and the whole experience was an absolute delight. We used the new Safety-Com as there is no assigned A/G yet and it worked well for the eight of us.

Well, well worth a visit and the Plantings Inn is not to be missed. Superb!

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“Visited Castle Kennedy on Saturday 31 July en-route to Oban. The airfield is basic and the surface has some loose stones, but is a good 600m with an interesting approach from the East (large hill near threshold) requiring a close-in base leg.

We contacted beforehand for PPR and the airfield owners could not have been more helpful. Even putting the windsock out for us specially.

We checked with West Freugh the day before (Castle Kennedy is in their Danger Area) we were told it was "cold". On the day, we called W Freugh Approach frequency (as expected it was closed), but we used it to make blind-calls.

The Plantings Inn really is nearby and we had morning coffee (and home made shortbread!) The Inn was lovely and the menu looked superb. Well worth supporting a new GA airfield in a beautiful part of the country.

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