Be Queen of the Castle on a short stay in Scotland
Ackergill Tower, Caithness
The stunning 15th-century Ackergill Tower in Wick, sits on the northeast coast of the Scottish Highlands in a peaceful and private location overlooking the sea. This luxury hotel has 17 rooms in the main tower and 14 rooms in the cottages. New for 2013, the Ackergill Stables are being converted into self-contained cottages for guests who prefer extra privacy. Some of the activities that can be arranged include whisky tastings, fishing and Rib (inflatable dinghy) rides.
Double rooms from £225 per night, including breakfast: 01955-603556, www.ackergilltower.com
Bunchrew House, Inverness
Set three miles from Inverness city centre, 17th-century Bunchrew House is surrounded by 20 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland, right on the water’s edge of the Beauly Firth. Some of the luxury four-star hotel’s rooms, named after local places and Scottish clans associated with Bunchrew, have four-poster beds, some have stunning views over the water, the gardens and the Loving Tree. One has its own conservatory, while another has a whirlpool bath.
Double rooms from £120 per night, including Scottish breakfast: 01463- 234917, www.bunchrew-inverness.co.uk
Fonab Castle, Pitlochry, Perthshire (pictured above)
Set to open in late May, this hotel in the Perthshire Highlands sits on the banks of Loch Faskally in breathtaking highland scenery. There will be 31 rooms (13 in the original castle and 18 rooms in the modern annexe), and eight rustic, yet luxurious lodges with private hot tubs in the grounds, and future plans include adding another 28 lodges, which will offer a more private highland retreat.
Double rooms from £180 per night, including breakfast: 01796-470140, www.fonabcastlehotel.com
Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae, Ayrshire
Built in 1870 and now a five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel, Glenapp is a fine example of Scottish Baronial architecture, with its battlements, turrets and towers, and views over Ailsa Craig, the Mull of Kintyre and across the Ayrshire coastline. The 17 bedrooms are individually decorated and the public areas are furnished with antiques and fine oil paintings.
Double rooms from £370 per night, including breakfast: 01465-831212, www.glenappcastle.com
Kinnettles Castle, Forfar, Angus
A handsome, 11-bedroom castle close to Dundee in the heart of the Angus countryside, Kinnettles Castle has a well-equipped games room, wine cellar, beautiful grounds and panoramic views of the rolling countryside. With plenty of onsite activities available on request, guests can choose to do as much or as little as they like, such as clay-pigeon shooting, horse riding and fly fishing.
Double rooms from £125 per night, including breakfast: 01307-820354, www.kinnettlescastle.com
Stonefield Castle, Tarbert, Argyll
Another stunning example of Scottish Baronial architecture, Stonefield has wonderful views over Loch Fyne. This four-star property has 32 rooms, an award-winning restaurant with a focus on locally sourced seafood and a snug, wood-panelled bar to unwind in. Adventures on offer include walking or trekking to see red deer, red grouse and red squirrels, or taking to the seas to spot basking sharks, porpoises and dolphins. The hotel is also dog-friendly.
Double rooms from £180 per night, including breakfast: 01880-820836, www.stonefieldcastlehotel.com
For more information: www.visitscotland.com
Perfect for a romantic getaway, i-escape offers Coillabus (below), two luxurious eco-lodges for two to four people, with hot tubs and saunas, overlooking the Oa Peninsula on the Island of Islay. From £142 per night, per lodge.
www.i-escape.com
Whisky galore
Craigellachie Hotel, Speyside, Banffshire, home to 700 different Scottish malt whiskies, offers a two-night Whisky For The Girls weekend, from £150 per person, with full Scottish breakfast, sixcourse tasting menu and 45-minute Whisky Masterclass:
0843-178 7114, www.thecraigellachiehotel.com
McSpa break
Archerfield House, Dirleton, East Lothian, has a one-night spa break from only £110 per person, including luxurious pavilion suite, breakfast, bottle of wine, use of spa and gym, 30 minutes in the rasul, plus either a 30-minute facial or massage.
0808-163 3208, www.spabreaks.com
The stunning 15th-century Ackergill Tower in Wick, sits on the northeast coast of the Scottish Highlands in a peaceful and private location overlooking the sea. This luxury hotel has 17 rooms in the main tower and 14 rooms in the cottages. New for 2013, the Ackergill Stables are being converted into self-contained cottages for guests who prefer extra privacy. Some of the activities that can be arranged include whisky tastings, fishing and Rib (inflatable dinghy) rides.
Double rooms from £225 per night, including breakfast: 01955-603556, www.ackergilltower.com
Bunchrew House, Inverness
Set three miles from Inverness city centre, 17th-century Bunchrew House is surrounded by 20 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland, right on the water’s edge of the Beauly Firth. Some of the luxury four-star hotel’s rooms, named after local places and Scottish clans associated with Bunchrew, have four-poster beds, some have stunning views over the water, the gardens and the Loving Tree. One has its own conservatory, while another has a whirlpool bath.
Double rooms from £120 per night, including Scottish breakfast: 01463- 234917, www.bunchrew-inverness.co.uk
Fonab Castle, Pitlochry, Perthshire (pictured above)
Set to open in late May, this hotel in the Perthshire Highlands sits on the banks of Loch Faskally in breathtaking highland scenery. There will be 31 rooms (13 in the original castle and 18 rooms in the modern annexe), and eight rustic, yet luxurious lodges with private hot tubs in the grounds, and future plans include adding another 28 lodges, which will offer a more private highland retreat.
Double rooms from £180 per night, including breakfast: 01796-470140, www.fonabcastlehotel.com
Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae, Ayrshire
Built in 1870 and now a five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel, Glenapp is a fine example of Scottish Baronial architecture, with its battlements, turrets and towers, and views over Ailsa Craig, the Mull of Kintyre and across the Ayrshire coastline. The 17 bedrooms are individually decorated and the public areas are furnished with antiques and fine oil paintings.
Double rooms from £370 per night, including breakfast: 01465-831212, www.glenappcastle.com
Kinnettles Castle, Forfar, Angus
A handsome, 11-bedroom castle close to Dundee in the heart of the Angus countryside, Kinnettles Castle has a well-equipped games room, wine cellar, beautiful grounds and panoramic views of the rolling countryside. With plenty of onsite activities available on request, guests can choose to do as much or as little as they like, such as clay-pigeon shooting, horse riding and fly fishing.
Double rooms from £125 per night, including breakfast: 01307-820354, www.kinnettlescastle.com
Stonefield Castle, Tarbert, Argyll
Another stunning example of Scottish Baronial architecture, Stonefield has wonderful views over Loch Fyne. This four-star property has 32 rooms, an award-winning restaurant with a focus on locally sourced seafood and a snug, wood-panelled bar to unwind in. Adventures on offer include walking or trekking to see red deer, red grouse and red squirrels, or taking to the seas to spot basking sharks, porpoises and dolphins. The hotel is also dog-friendly.
Double rooms from £180 per night, including breakfast: 01880-820836, www.stonefieldcastlehotel.com
For more information: www.visitscotland.com
Highland Flings
Luxe LodgesPerfect for a romantic getaway, i-escape offers Coillabus (below), two luxurious eco-lodges for two to four people, with hot tubs and saunas, overlooking the Oa Peninsula on the Island of Islay. From £142 per night, per lodge.
www.i-escape.com
Whisky galore
Craigellachie Hotel, Speyside, Banffshire, home to 700 different Scottish malt whiskies, offers a two-night Whisky For The Girls weekend, from £150 per person, with full Scottish breakfast, sixcourse tasting menu and 45-minute Whisky Masterclass:
0843-178 7114, www.thecraigellachiehotel.com
McSpa break
Archerfield House, Dirleton, East Lothian, has a one-night spa break from only £110 per person, including luxurious pavilion suite, breakfast, bottle of wine, use of spa and gym, 30 minutes in the rasul, plus either a 30-minute facial or massage.
0808-163 3208, www.spabreaks.com