Carleton, a small bay and a hill in Colmonell parish, Ayrshire. The bay lies 6¼ miles SSW of Girvan, and has a small boat harbour. The hill rises steeply from such near neighbourhood to the bay as, at full tide, to permit barely foot-way between its base and the sea; attains an elevation of 520 feet above sea-level; and is crowned by a ruined fortalice.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)