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They're rolling out the red carpet in Culzean Castle's grand hallway, when I arrive.

Not for a state occasion but for the thousands of visitors who'll pour through these doors from April onwards for a glimpse of one of the most spectacular castles in Scotland.

When the castle was first handed over to the National Trust for Scotland, Ayrshire carpet companies took it in turns to replace the much-walked-upon carpets.

Today, there's only one local manufacturer and the trust has to pay like anyone else.

It's long been an ambition of the trust to return the castle to its late 19th Century grandeur, when the third Marquess of Ailsa revived much of the Adam-designed interior.

President Eisenhower

When they initially took over the castle in 1946, they didn't have the money for a refurbishment.

The oil crisis of the 70s and the recession in the 80s caused more delay. But now they have the cash for the refurb thanks to president Eisenhower and the american schoolboy he inspired.

Eisenhower was a huge fan of Culzean, first visiting in the 1940s as general Eisenhower.

It was a condition of the handover of the castle to the National Trust for Scotland in 1946 that Eisenhower have the use of the top floor of the building - with it's breathtaking views of Arran - as a thank you for his part in the allied efforts during World War II.

Eisenhower visited four times in all - twice as general Eisenhower, once as president, and more significantly as former president.

"He brought his grandchildren that time,"says property manager Paul Pomfret. "And they spent 10 days at the castle and visiting the wider area - playing golf at turnberry, visiting maybole - he was clearly very fond of the place."

Fireplace unearthed

That fondness was picked up by a young William Lindsay who recalled the president visiting his school and talking about his love of Scotland.

Despite the fact he apparently never visited, he left $4m to the National Trust for Scotland when he died last year, with the stipulation that some of the money go to Culzean.

It's meant that curators can bring back many of the items the house would have held - an ornate mirror bought in auction and that aforementioned carpet among them.

But other artefacts have been much less costly - and right under their noses.

Like the gorgeous original Robert Adam fireplace unearthed in a guest bedroom and the paintings lent back by the Kennedy family who once lived here.

Then there's the 1920s wardrobe - commissioned rather extravagantly for a visit from the Prince of Wales, who in the end only stayed for breakfast.

It was discovered in a holiday house on the estate,and quickly returned to the castle.

Like any large castle by the sea, maintenance is a constant issue and there's further work to be done, not least in upgrading the apartments which bear Eisenhower's name - and now welcome ordinary overnight guests as well as presidents and their entourage.