7 Castle Hotels in Scotland That You Can Stay in

Built in the late 1700s by architect Robert Adam on the Ayrshire coast, and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, Culzean Castle is an absolute gem. From whispering woods and rugged sandy beaches to flashy grounds, towers of turrets and ornate accents, the 642-acre (260ha) estate is open to the public by day. To stay overnight you have to rent the whole castle, which doesn’t come cheap, but it does comes with six bedrooms on the top floor, a private dining room and round drawing room, with superb views of the Firth of Clyde, Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. President Eisenhower holidayed here back in the day, and today you can get half-board for your “clan”, including cream tea, pre-dinner drinks, a three-course dinner and full Scottish breakfast.

On the little island of Shapinsay, in Orkney, sits this most dignified castle. With trimmings such as de Gournay silk wallpaper, rolltop baths, formal gardens and indescribable vistas, Balfour Castle hotel is everything you can imagine from a Scottish castle, and then some. As a guest, you’ll arrive in some style by private chartered boat. This venue is the very definition of exclusive, offering unrivalled views, stunning wilderness and the divine light that pours in through the giant windows casting delicate dancing shadows.