Where to stay in a castle in Scotland

Scotland has more castles per square mile than almost anywhere else in the world, and the best news is that you can sleep in many of them. Some have been turned into luxury hotels with Michelin-recognised restaurants and spa wings; others let you rent an entire castle to yourself for a wedding, an anniversary or a big-occasion family gathering; many estate castles now offer self-catering apartments and B&B rooms in the gatehouse, the stables or a baronial wing.

This is my locally-curated guide to 25 of the best places to stay in a castle in Scotland. From a 12th-century border tower house you can book just for two, to a 700-year-old Highland fortress on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, to a fully restored 13th-century estate near Edinburgh with a spa.

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At a glance

• Best for couples: Neidpath Castle, Mingary Castle, Inverlochy Castle
• Best for families: Barns Tower, Thirlestane Castle Apartments, Glengorm Castle
• Best for exclusive use: Buittle Castle, Crossbasket Castle, Cornhill Castle
• Best near Edinburgh: Dalhousie Castle, Fa’side Castle, Melville Castle
• Best for luxury and spa: Glenapp Castle, Inverlochy Castle, Fonab Castle
• Best for self-catering: Dollarbeg Castle, Thirlestane Castle, Neidpath Castle Cottage

Best castle hotels in Scotland (full-service luxury)

These are full hotels in castle buildings, with restaurants, bars and concierge services. Expect £200-£600+ per room per night for the very best.

Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae, Ayrshire. A five-star, 17-bedroom Scots baronial castle on the Ayrshire coast with views out to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. Dating from 1870, the castle has a Michelin-recommended restaurant, beautifully kept gardens, and a sister adventure brand (the Hebridean Sea Safari) for sea-based day trips. The most luxurious castle hotel in Scotland.

Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Fort William. Queen Victoria spent a week here in 1873 and wrote “I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot.” Today the 19th-century castle is a Relais & Châteaux property with 17 individually designed bedrooms, three dining rooms (one with a Michelin star), and the looming presence of Ben Nevis just beyond the gardens.

Fonab Castle, Pitlochry. A boutique castle hotel with contemporary interiors, an excellent restaurant, and one of the best views in Perthshire (overlooking Loch Faskally). Brilliantly placed for Highland Perthshire walking, the Pitlochry Festival Theatre and exploring lovely Dunkeld.

Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg. A 13th-century fortress 30 minutes south of Edinburgh, now a luxury hotel with two restaurants, an aqueous spa, and elegant rooms in the historic main castle. Falconry experiences on the lawns. Excellent for an Edinburgh trip with a touch of theatre.

Cameron House, Loch Lomond. Technically a baronial mansion rather than a true castle, but the lochside setting, two championship golf courses, the spa and the loch-side restaurants put it firmly in this league. Perfect for combining with a Loch Lomond trip.

Dornoch Castle Hotel, Dornoch. A 500-year-old former bishop’s palace in the centre of the pretty Sutherland town of Dornoch. Famous for its whisky bar (one of the best curated whisky lists in Scotland) and brilliantly placed for the North Coast 500.

Dalmunzie Castle Hotel, Blairgowrie. On the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, this 16th-century castle hotel sits in 6,500 acres of private highland estate. 17 rooms, a strong restaurant and easy access to Glenshee for skiing.

Stonefield Castle, Tarbert, Argyll. Built in 1837 as a Scots Baronial mansion, Stonefield overlooks Loch Fyne with 32 acres of gardens and a fine dining restaurant. Brilliantly positioned for Kintyre, Bute and Arran.

Kincraig Castle, Invergordon. 20 miles north of Inverness, this 19th-century castle hotel is on the doorstep of the Black Isle and the wider NC500 route.

Glengarry Castle Hotel, Invergarry. Sitting on the shores of Loch Oich, seven miles from Loch Ness. A 19th-century baronial castle with roaring fires, four-poster beds and 50 acres of grounds.

Best castle hotels near Edinburgh

If you want a castle stay within easy striking distance of Edinburgh, the city is surprisingly well-served.

Dalhousie Castle is your best bet for full-service castle luxury (see above) at just 30 minutes from Princes Street.

Melville Castle is a 4-star castle hotel in Lasswade, 20 minutes south of Edinburgh. 32 individually designed rooms in a Georgian-Gothic mansion, plus a popular restaurant and bar. Great for Edinburgh visitors who want a castle without the long drive.

Fa’side Castle, Musselburgh. A 14th-century castle B&B 20 minutes east of Edinburgh on the Faside Estate. Two rooms, both individually furnished, and a stunning hilltop position with views across the Forth.

For a Borders castle that still works as an Edinburgh base, Cringletie House at Peebles (45 minutes south of Edinburgh) is a 4-Gold-Star country house hotel set in 28 acres of gardens. The dining room is excellent.

Best castles for self-catering

If you want a castle to yourself rather than hotel service, several castles offer self-catering apartments or whole-castle rentals. These work brilliantly for couples wanting privacy, families needing space, or groups celebrating big occasions.

Neidpath Castle Cottage, Peebles. A 12th-century castle just for two. Sleep in a four-poster bed, light a fire, take a roll-top bath, and walk the ramparts at sunset. You get the entire historic castle (one bedroom). It’s one of the most romantic stays in Scotland.

Barns Tower, Peebles. A 16th-century peel tower restored to sleep four, owned by the Neidpath family and run alongside Neidpath Castle Cottage. Brilliant for a small family wanting a castle without the formality.

Dollarbeg Castle, Dollar. A three-bedroom apartment within Dollarbeg Castle in the pretty Clackmannanshire village of Dollar. Cinema room, tower bedroom, and walking distance to Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell.

Thirlestane Castle Apartments, Lauder. A magnificent 16th-century castle in the Borders offering five self-catering apartments. Try The Sculleries, Glenburnie, The Lauderdale, The Maitland and The Earl & Countess. The Earl & Countess is the most lavish (originally the laird’s private quarters).

Best castles for exclusive use (whole castle rental)

For weddings, anniversaries, big birthdays and the kind of family reunions where everyone gets their own wing.

Buittle Castle, Castle Douglas. An 850-year-old castle in Dumfries & Galloway available for exclusive use. The castle also offers two B&B rooms (The Lady Maxwell Room and The Munches Room) when not booked out for exclusive use.

Crossbasket Castle, near Glasgow. A meticulously restored 17th-century castle 25 minutes from Glasgow. Excellent for weddings (it has its own chapel) and exclusive-use family events alongside hotel rooms. The interiors are exceptional, with a serious art collection throughout.

Cornhill Castle, Biggar. A fully restored castle in South Lanarkshire that operates as a hotel but is also available for exclusive use. 17 bedrooms in the main house plus a separate cottage.

Shieldhill Castle, Biggar. A 12th-century castle with luxurious rooms and suites, a restaurant and grounds. Both rooms-only and exclusive-use options available.

Best smaller castle B&Bs and unique stays

Smaller, more personal castle stays, usually run by the owners themselves.

Mingary Castle, Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan. A 700-year-old tower house on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, restored as a restaurant with rooms. The setting (looking across to Mull) is exceptional, the food is excellent, and the remote location means you’ll often have the castle and the coastline to yourself.

Barcaldine Castle, near Oban. A 17th-century “Black Castle” on the shores of Loch Creran, now a luxury B&B. Reputed to be haunted, which the owners lean into appropriately.

Glengorm Castle, Isle of Mull. A Victorian baronial castle on Mull’s north coast with five B&B rooms in the castle and several self-catering cottages on the surrounding estate. Beautiful coastal walks from the door. See my Mull guide for what to do nearby.

What to expect from a Scottish castle stay

Castle stays in Scotland fall broadly into four categories, each with different price points and experiences:

• Luxury castle hotels (£250-£600+ per room per night): Full hotel service, restaurants, often a spa, concierge, sometimes a Michelin star. Examples: Glenapp, Inverlochy, Fonab.
• Mid-range castle hotels (£150-£300 per room per night): Restaurant and bar, decent comfort, often a country-house feel rather than red-carpet luxury. Examples: Dornoch, Stonefield, Melville.
• Castle B&Bs (£100-£200 per room per night): Smaller, more personal, often run by the owners. Breakfast included, dinner sometimes available. Examples: Fa’side, Barcaldine, Glengorm.
• Self-catering castle apartments (£150-£500+ per night for the whole property): Privacy, kitchens, often sleeps 2-10 depending on the property. Best value for groups and families. Examples: Neidpath Castle Cottage, Dollarbeg, Thirlestane.
• Exclusive use (£3,000-£15,000+ per night for the whole castle): The whole castle to yourself, often with catering arranged. Best for weddings, anniversaries and major celebrations. Examples: Buittle, Crossbasket, Cornhill.

Where to stay in a castle in Scotland: frequently asked questions

Love from Scotland x

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