17 Spellbinding Scottish Castles to Spend the Night In
Fernie Castle, Fife
Fernie Castle is located just east of the village of Letham in northeast Fife, set across 17 acres of woodland. The nearly 500-year-old castle has 20 “bed chambers” — referred to as king, monarch, queen, lady and squire — all of which provide picture windows with views of the countryside, and some containing four-poster beds.
They may come with an unexpected surprise too — as with many historic Scottish castles, this one also has a haunted tale. An apparition known as the “Green Lady,” a girl who was said to have fallen three floors from the west tower to her death, is occasionally spotted in some of the castle bedrooms.
Guests can enjoy a unique non-ghostly stay by booking the treehouse suite that sits among six huge sycamore trees and features stained-glass windows, a big elm bed, a freestanding tub and fantastical woodland murals.
Additionally, there’s a fine dining restaurant serving lunch and dinner in a Georgian chandelier-lit atmosphere, as well as a casual bistro with a relaxed atmosphere.
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Duchray Castle, Aberfoyle
Tucked deep within the woods in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Forest, the 500-year-old Duchray Castle offers an especially romantic, secluded stay. You’ll enjoy the Victorian-Gothic style of the castle that’ll make you feel as though you’ve gone back in time, alongside plenty of modern comforts making this one of the best castles you can stay in Scotland.
It’s ideal for honeymooners, families or groups of friends who want to have an entire castle all to themselves as it’s available on a self-catering basis, with four bedrooms, three doubles and one twin. Each one is uniquely decorated and showcases beautiful views of the countryside, along with either an antique sleigh or four-poster bed and flat-screen television.
The castle is set upon 90 acres of private grounds, complete with a hidden rose garden and a pond. You’ll have the entire property to enjoy, including forest tracks, like the 4.5-mile walk that leads to the Wee Blether tea room which sits along the banks of Loch Ard. There’s magnificent scenery in every direction, and a river at the bottom of the lush garden.
When the weather doesn’t allow for a comfortable stroll, up the stone turnpike stairs is a sitting room with comfy sofas and leather chairs where you can get lost in a book next to the warmth of a fire.
The castle also happens to have a rich and fascinating history linked to Rob Roy, who is said to have been a guest at one time.
