17 Spellbinding Scottish Castles to Spend the Night In
Kinnettles Castle, Dundee
Kinnettles Castle sits on a 44-acre estate among spectacularly landscaped grounds and gardens in the Scottish countryside. Looking as if it belongs in a medieval romance film, the baronial castle was built in the mid-19th century, and serves as a boutique castle hotel today.
It features a bit of the old and new, including ornate plasterwork and grand fireplaces along with a unique contemporary design and furnishings. There’s a sophisticated bar lounge, billiard room, two game rooms, a dining room and drawing room to be enjoyed inside. Meanwhile, outdoor activities include horseback riding, fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting and walks through the woodland.
Dornoch Castle, Sutherland
Dating back to the 15th century, Dornoch Castle was once the residence of the Bishop of Caithness and the Earl of Sutherland. It has an especially colorful history having been set afire during a clan feud, though it’s been impeccably restored since then. It’s also served as a jail, courthouse, school and hunting lodge before eventually becoming the grand castle hotel it is today.
It makes an ideal base for exploring the Sutherland area making this one of the best castles to stay in Scotland. By staying in one of the deluxe rooms, either the Tower Room or Old Courtroom, you’ll sleep in the oldest part of the castle while enjoying upscale perks like a spa bath. Book the Old Courtroom and you’ll also get a log fireplace and a hand-carved four-poster bed.
Especially romantic, the Garden Restaurant that overlooks the formal walled garden serves candlelit dinners. Alternatively, guests can enjoy more casual meals in front of a crackling fire burning in the 11-foot-high fireplace that was once part of the Bishop’s kitchen, centuries ago.
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Ackergill Tower, Caithness
Ackergill Tower is nestled in the Scottish Highlands and is considered to be one of the world’s most exclusive castle hotels. It overlooks the sea, providing an especially breathtaking setting, and has been home to royalty and a number of celebrities over the years too.
Some are said to still linger, perhaps finding it too comfortable to ever want to leave. As the story goes, the Keith family lived here in the 1400s. They were in a bloody feud with the Gunn family, with multiple murders occurring on both sides.
Helen Gunn, one of the Gunn daughters, was abducted by one of the Keith family members and in the process she either fell or jumped from the castle tower during an escape attempt and consequently died. Since then, she’s occasionally been seen wandering the corridors and grounds donning a long red ball gown. Guests, who have the option to stay in one of 35 luxurious rooms that include tower rooms or one of the five B&B-style cottages, might even catch a glimpse of her spirit themselves.
