Looking for an unforgettable getaway? These Scottish castles deliver history, drama and luxury
BBC One's hit spin-off The Celebrity Traitors has returned to our screens for its second series, with 21 famous faces (now 20 after the Traitor's first murder!) competing to claim the £100,000 charity cash prize. And while we can expect plenty of drama, scheming, deception, and brutal eliminations, the show also captivates audiences with its spectacular setting.
The Traitors is filmed in the majestic 19th-century Ardross Castle, nestled in the Scottish Highlands, which perfectly matches the theatrical feel of the show. Surrounded by acres of parkland and a large, manicured garden, the castle has an ominous and moody atmosphere, with Gothic architecture that’s emblematic of the Scottish Baronial style.
If you’ve found yourself wondering what it might be like to experience a night in a Scottish castle, look no further. We’ve found a selection of magnificent castles that are open for bookings and cater to a range of different budgets.
Crossbasket Castle
Located in High Blantyre, less than 10 miles from Glasgow, Crossbasket Castle reopened in March last year following a £20m expansion. It now includes a brand-new hotel built within the castle’s estate, offering 40 deluxe rooms for guests to stay in. This 5-star hotel promises an extremely luxurious stay, with bespoke soft furnishings and a stylish Art Deco aesthetic.
The castle was also carefully restored in 2016, preserving its beauty and saving it from complete ruin. The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 1400s, and various important figures have resided within its walls, including Charles Macintosh – inventor of waterproof fabric.
The venue also has two restaurants serving delicious food for guests to enjoy. Foveran’s is an elegant palm court-style restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, while Trocadero’s is run by Michelin star chef Michel Roux and is known for its fantastic live music scene. Named after a 1950s dance hall in the local town of Hamilton, Trocadero’s has been designed to resemble a secret underground jazz club, capturing the glitz and glamour of the Prohibition era.
The castle’s proximity to Glasgow also makes it accessible, with Glasgow Airport just 30 minutes away. There is also a train line and bus route that goes from Glasgow Central train station to High Blantyre.
Duns Castle
Duns Castle is a striking fortress located just an hour from Edinburgh in the Scottish Borders. Steeped in history, Duns Castle dates back to 1320, when the land was given by Scottish King Robert the Bruce to his nephew, the Earl of Moray.
The castle has been remodelled multiple times over the centuries, extending upon the original medieval tower. The prominent Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham was hired to transform the property into the incredible Gothic Revival-style castle you see today. The castle still belongs to the Hay family, who purchased the site in back 1696, and the current owners, Alick and Aline Hay, live on site.
The castle’s gothic interiors have also been preserved, making you feel as though you’ve journeyed back in time when you step through its doors. The castle’s majestic dining room overlooks the gardens and is decorated with rich dark wood, ornate carvings, and coffered ceilings.
The main drawing room is another stunning space in the castle, and couples who wish to tie the knot can get married in front of the room’s large bay windows, overlooking the estate. The castle also has a traditional billiard room and offers a variety of luxurious bedrooms, including en-suite rooms, twin rooms, and bedrooms with lavish four-poster beds.
With a spectacular 1,200 acres of private grounds surrounding the castle, guests can enjoy exploring the sprawling lawns and lush forest and taking in peaceful views of the lake, named Hen Poo. There’s also a range of exciting outdoor activities including clay pigeon shooting, falconry, archery and croquet.
For guests who fancy venturing out into the local area, the historic country town of Duns is just a stone’s throw away. There are several attractions nearby including Manderston House, a breathtaking Edwardian country house featuring a silver staircase, and the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, where motor racing enthusiasts can learn about the life and career of the Formula 1 champion, who lived in the area. You can also walk the Duns Law loop, experiencing panoramic views from the top and passing an Iron Age hill fort along the route.
Duns Castle is available to hire on an exclusive-use basis – accommodating up to 23 guests and including private access to the castle and the grounds.
Edinburgh Airport is approximately 1 hour's drive away, while Newcastle Airport is around 1.5 hours from the estate. For those travelling by train, Berwick-upon-Tweed train station is just 20 minutes from Duns. The line from Edinburgh Waverley takes 1 hour, and the line from London King's Cross takes 3.5 hours.
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel is located in Pollokshields, a suburb on the south side of Glasgow, making it the ideal destination for guests who want a relaxing stay in a stately building while still being close to the hustle and bustle of a major city.
The hotel features 18 bedrooms with a variety of suites to choose from, ensuring guests can find the perfect room for their needs and budget. Each room has been elegantly decorated and comes equipped with an array of amenities, including flat-screen TVs, complimentary wi-fi, a coffee machine, and high-end toiletries.
The hotel also features a bar and a restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, made from locally sourced ingredients, as well as traditional afternoon tea. Their Sunday roast is a particular favourite – with homemade Yorkshire puddings that guarantee it’ll be a crowd-pleaser.
The estate was built in 1896 by John Morrison in the baronial style and was originally named ‘Rhuadsgeir’. The building was turned into a hotel before the Second World War, and was used by the Royal Navy as a radar training centre during the conflict. After the war, Sherbrooke Castle reopened its doors as a hotel and continues to welcome guests 80 years later. Today, the iconic square tower of the castle is a key landmark in the area.
Nearby Glasgow boasts a fantastic range of cultural attractions with numerous museums and galleries, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the Burrell Collection, and the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). The city is also known for its live music and a thriving nightlife scene.
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel is one of the most accessible castles on this list, with the drive from the city centre being just 10 minutes, or 15 minutes from Glasgow International Airport.
Dornoch Castle Hotel
Dornoch Castle Hotel is located in the seaside town of the same name, which is just over 40 miles from Inverness. This family-run hotel is child-friendly, and there’s also a number of ground floor rooms where dogs are welcome, so you don’t have to leave your furry friend behind.
The estate offers 21 bedrooms in the hotel, nine rooms in the historic castle itself, and an additional 12 rooms in its garden extension. With ample accommodation on site, Dornoch Castle Hotel is well-suited for weddings. Receptions are held in the garden restaurant, which looks out onto the beautiful walled garden and can comfortably hold up to 90 guests.
Dornoch Castle has an extensive and rich history, and it’s believed that the castle is built on the site of Saint Gilbert of Dornoch’s original Bishop’s Palace – St Gilbert was the most famous Bishop of Caithness and founded Dornoch Cathedral in the 13th century.
The oldest record of the castle is from 1557, when the castle was given to the Earl of Sutherland by Bishop Robert Stewart. A key moment in the castle’s history occurred in 1570, during Scottish Clan warfare. After the young Earl Alexander was rescued from Caithness control by a rival clan, Caithness and their allies attacked and looted the town of Dornoch, besieging the castle and cathedral and damaging St Gilbert’s tomb.
The grisly history has led to tales of curses and divine retribution for the crimes committed, making Dornoch Castle the perfect option for guests who enjoy visiting places with a sinister past. The castle is also said to be haunted by a sheep-stealing ghost named Andrew McCornish, making it a terrific place to stay at Halloween.
Dornoch Castle Hotel has a fantastic range of facilities to make your stay extra special. Its award-winning bar serves an expertly curated selection of whiskies, and whisky and gin are also made on-site in their distillery. The hotel also features a 15th-century vault where guests can enjoy private dinners or whisky tastings.
For those who want to sample more Scottish malt whiskies, there are numerous distilleries in the area, such as Glenmorangie, Balblair, Dalmore and Clynelish. Nature lovers will also love strolling across the golden sands of Dornoch Beach, or visiting the breathtaking Falls of Shin waterfall.
Inverness is the nearest airport to Dornoch Castle Hotel, and Tain and Golspie are the local train stations.
Culzean Castle
Overlooking the Firth of Clyde and situated on top of the rugged cliffs of Ayrshire, is the majestic Culzean Castle. The keep was designed by the respected architect Robert Adam in the 18th century for the 10th Earl of Cassillis, David Kennedy, who was a member of one of the oldest Scottish clans and a descendant of the legendary Robert the Bruce. Kennedy wanted to showcase his power and wealth through this country residence, so opulence and extravagance radiates from every corner of Culzean.
The most spectacular feature is the winding Oval Staircase, which has been featured in several films and TV shows, including the 2025 period drama The Buccaneers, cult horror film The Wicker Man, and others.
Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, guests can stay in one of the eight self-catered properties situated within the castle’s country park. The Clocktower and Royal Artillery Cottage are both within Culzean Castle’s sandstone stable block, with the former sleeping up to six guests and having its own private garden, and the latter sleeping four and enjoying fantastic ocean views of the Isle of Arran. For those who want to stay within the castle walls, their Brewhouse ground-floor flat is located in the west wing and dates back to 1780.
Get lost in Culzean Castle’s incredible 260-hectare country park, which features a walled garden bursting with flowers, verdant woodland, glasshouses growing fruit, an 18th-century ice house and both a swan pond and deer park.
Culzean Castle is the perfect retreat for those who want to surround themselves with wildlife and reconnect with nature. It’s also a great option for families, with two play areas to keep children of all ages entertained; youngsters will love the Adventure Cove playground, while the Wild Woodland play park, which is designed to look like Culzean Castle and offers exciting play through the treetops, is ideal for older children.
Outside of the castle grounds, guests can enjoy venturing across clifftops and paying a visit to the beautiful beaches below. For serious hikers who want a challenge, the Ayrshire Coastal Path which is a 100-mile coastal walk is nearby. Visitors can also explore the seaside town of Ayr, which has plenty to do and see, including a museum exploring the life of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.
Maybole Station is the closest train station to the castle and roughly a 10-minute taxi journey. There's also a 25-minute bus line that goes directly from the station to the castle, and Glasgow Airport is a 45-minute drive away.
Torrisdale Castle Estate
Located on the windswept Kintyre Peninsula, Torrisdale Castle dates back to 1815, when the owner of the estate, General Keith Macalister, commissioned renowned Gothic-style architect James Gillespie Graham to design the impressive sandstone building. The castle remains in the Macalister Hall family today and it is also open to the public.
Guests can stay in their self-catering apartment, which is on the ground floor of the castle and was once the servants' quarters, or in one of their two bothies, the South Lodge, or their Garden Cottage, which has a gorgeous view of the walled garden and a hot tub.
Enjoy an exciting stay at Torrisdale Castle Estate, with plenty of activities to enjoy on site. In 2015, the Bicentennial Walk was created to celebrate 200 years of the castle, and it is a gentle 1-mile route around the estate.
Guests can also hike across the beautiful Kintyre peninsula and explore a section of the long Kintyre Way Walk, with direct access from Torrisdale without having to use a main road. There are also two beaches within walking distance of the estate where guests can enjoy an invigorating swim in the clear waters. Visitors are also permitted to bring watersports equipment, making Torrisdale Castle the ideal getaway for adventure-seekers.
Torrisdale Castle’s on-site Beinn an Tuirc Distillery, makers of Kintyre Gin, is the perfect place for guests to sit out and sip gin cocktails or enjoy an engaging gin tour. For real enthusiasts of the spirit, guests can learn how to blend their own gin in an afternoon with the fantastic gin-blending course.
The distillery offers more than just gin, within the distillery complex you’ll find a cosy café, where you can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea with homemade cake; and a 10m geodome, where sound baths and yoga classes take place, providing a relaxing oasis that will leave you feeling revitalised.
Outside of the estate, guests can drive the stunning 66-mile Kintyre 66 route, for magnificent views of all six regions of the peninsula. The loop also passes through the historic royal burgh of Campbeltown. With several whisky distilleries, a heritage centre, and the iconic Edwardian Campbeltown Picture House cinema, this charming town is definitely worth a visit.
Torrisdale Castle Estate is a 3.5 hour drive from Glasgow. You can also fly from Glasgow Airport to Campbeltown Airport or take the Citylink service from Glasgow to Campbeltown, and from there, take a 30-minute taxi journey to the estate.
Photos Euan Cherry, Cody Burridge, Duns Castle, Gary Bonar, Josh Moses & Elliot Roberts, National Trust for Scotland, Raymond Hosie
Read more:
