Luxury castle holidays in the UK

Mentioning to friends that youve booked a luxury break almost always invokes images of cleanwhite beaches, clear blue seas and being waited on hand and foot as you sit in a sun lounger sippinga cocktail and letting the world pass you by. While this is seen by many as the peak of indulgenceand the pinnacle of luxury relaxation there is a sector emerging in the luxury travel industry which istaking the notion of treating its customers like royalty to a whole new level.

In the UK, in Scotland especially, there are companies now offering the opportunity to hire andreceive exclusive use of a castle, a distinct step up from the typical 5 star hotel stays usually onoffer. The range of properties available is surprisingly large and there are huge varieties in style andstructure, ranging from quirky tower houses to grand and spectacular castles with large estates andgardens.

Aldourie Castle is just about as stereotypically Scottish a location as youll ever see, and ismagnificent for exactly that reason. Located on the southern shore of the world famous Loch Ness,the castle has been extensively and sensitively restored over the past few years to regain all of itsformer glory and it offers visitors an exclusive taste of the Highland Estate lifestyle. With 500 acres ofhighland countryside on the doorstep and even a private marina on the loch it really is a special wayto see one of Scotlands most scenic locations.

Just off the North East of Scotland is the Orkney Islands, a distinctly remote location which hasbeen almost entirely unspoilt by commerce and industry. On the island of Shapinsay there lies thestunning Balfour Castle, which despite its remote location is reasonably simple to access and richlyrewards those who go out of their way to visit. Despite being from the Victorian era the castle nowfeatures a number of modern facilities, including a private cinema and a room with a state of the artgolf simulator. It can sleep up to 18 guests and the in house chef picked up the Scottish Chef of theYear award in 2009.

Inveraray Castle is very much the clich jewel in the crown in one of Scotlands most beautifultowns. The town of Inveraray is accessible after a scenic drive through the Argyll forest area, andits slightly remote location means the town is fairly quiet for most of the year. The castle itselfis unmistakably Scottish and has been standing since the 1400s, and guests can rent a suite of 5star rooms as well as having the State Dining Room, Armoury Hall and Saloon available for privatefunctions. The castle is situated in stunning gardens, with 14 acres of woodland and 2 acres ofcolourful flowerbeds and manicured lawns and is just a short 2 minute walk from the shores of theloch.

These are just a small sample of the accommodation available in this niche, and it really offers adifferent take on the idea of a luxury holiday. For some it just wont compare to cocktails on thebeach, but for those looking for something different a stay in one of these beautiful castles might besomething they remember for the rest of their lives.

Stuart Young is Owner of The UK Tourist Blog.

If you would like to be a guest blogger onA Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, pleasecontact us.

Luxury castle holidays in the UK is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog


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