Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle
St. Govor’s Well.
St. Govor’s Well
Shivsrushti
Pierced domes of Hammam Seffarine.
Hammam Seffarine
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
26 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
26 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
27 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
28 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Johnstone Kenmure Hill Temple

Kenmure Hill Temple

A mysterious ruin shrouded in more folklore than fact.

Johnstone, Scotland

Added By
Sandra McGhee
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Kenmure Hill Temple.   Leslie Barrie/cc by-sa 2.0
Kenmure Hill Temple.   Leslie Barrie/cc by-sa 2.0
July 2023  
  ssm67alba / Atlas Obscura User
  ssm67alba / Atlas Obscura User
Kenmure Hill Temple   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Kenmure Hill Temple.   ssm67alba / Atlas Obscura User
Kenmure Hill Temple.   ssm67alba / Atlas Obscura User
Kenmure Hill Temple   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  ssm67alba / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Any train passengers traveling through Scotland from Johnstone to the coast or drivers on the A737 passing by the Howwood/Lochwinnoch area can't fail to notice the stark, roofless ruin crowning Kenmure Hill.

Little is known about "The Temple." Local folklore states that the octagonal structure was a place of worship for the landowner’s servants or his foreign wife. Other tales claim it was a nursery for a sick child, or a watchtower for ladies to attend to their embroidery while the men hunted below on horseback.

Records show the building was constructed around 1760 for Colonel William McDowell, a wealthy merchant who made his money in the West Indies. Originally, there were avenues of trees on the hill, which was a common feature for summer houses of that era. The inspiration for this may have come from James Gibbs’s 1728 A Book of Architecture, Containing Designs of Buildings and Ornaments, a kind of scrapbook for building ideas.

The very fact so much mystery surrounds the reason it was built also alludes to the idea it may actually have been a Masonic temple. Freemasonry was practiced widely around here, and still is to this day.

In 1830, a lightning strike and subsequent fire damaged the roof. The building is in remarkably good condition despite this, and is a testament to the quality of its construction.

Related Tags

Follies Architectural Oddities Ruins Temples Architecture

Know Before You Go

Visiting the temple requires a degree of fitness. An access gate is available on the cycle track at the north side of the monument. Alternatively, take the A737 and leave at Howwood. Follow Station Road and use one of several minor roads to get to the field where the ruin is. There is no path so sturdy footwear is required. It is also quite a steep incline to the monument and visitors need to be mindful of any potential livestock. For this reason dogs must be kept on a leash.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

ssm67alba

Edited By

linkogecko, Jaszmina Szendrey, Kerry Wolfe, Miniebecky

  • linkogecko
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Miniebecky

Published

April 18, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://britainexplorer.com/listing/kenmure-hill-temple/
  • http://rlhf.info/castle-semple-temple/
Kenmure Hill Temple
Johnstone, Scotland
United Kingdom
55.809833, -4.578166

Nearby Places

Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Lochwinnoch, Scotland

miles away

Clochoderick Stone

Renfrewshire, Scotland

miles away

Johnstone Castle

Johnstone, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Johnstone

Johnstone

Scotland

Places 3

Nearby Places

Castle Semple Collegiate Church

Lochwinnoch, Scotland

miles away

Clochoderick Stone

Renfrewshire, Scotland

miles away

Johnstone Castle

Johnstone, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Johnstone

Johnstone

Scotland

Places 3

Related Places

  • A relief of surgical instruments.

    Nagoa Ash Shatb, Egypt

    Temple of Kom Ombo

    One of its engravings is believed to be among the first representations of medical and surgical instruments.

  • Reserve Jangal Masrur Joni-I, India

    Masrur Temple

    15 monolithic temples emulate an eroding sand castle.

  • Tokyo, Japan

    Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple

    A grand Buddhist temple with Indian influences.

  • What appears to be an ancient Greek ruin is, in fact, a colossal mess.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    National Monument of Scotland

    A never-finished memorial to the heroes of the Napoleonic War has become "Scotland's Folly."

  • Temple of Artemis Agrotera

    Athens, Greece

    Temple of Artemis Agrotera

    The only ancient site that remains on the south bank of the sacred Ilissos river.

  • Western Deffufa

    Kerma Albeled, Sudan

    Western Deffufa of Kerma

    The best-preserved example of a unique structure in Nubian architecture.

  • Shrine of Hercules Curinus

    Sulmona, Italy

    Shrine of Hercules Curinus

    The ruins of this temple were later chosen by Pope Celestine V to found an abbey and a hermitage.

  • Kanazawa, Japan

    Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)

    Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.