Aldourie Castle, exclusive hire
A baronial beauty on the shore of Loch Ness
After a long dark winter, I needed a shot of fresh air, somewhere peaceful, restorative and luxurious but without travelling far. I found exactly that on the shores of Loch Ness, at the beautiful Aldourie Estate in the Scottish Highlands.
First impressions: a storybook Scottish estate on Loch Ness
A short drive from Inverness, we drive through the gate and down the long sweeping drive, and felt like we had entered another world. The trees cleared and revealed the grand, turreted castle, set right on the loch, the afternoon sunlight giving a beautiful late winter glow. This time of year also provided mist hanging over the loch in the morning, and a beautiful crisp feel in the air, and a hint of warmth in the sun.
While we were staying in one of the luxury self-catering cottages tucked into the beautiful walled garden, I was fortunate enough to the show around the Castle itself. In fact, they welcomed us with a roaring fire, freshly made shortbread and coffee, making us feel at "home" straight away. Not that my home is a 12 bedroom castle complete with sauna yurt, boathouse and steadings!
Undeniably Scottish, the design is influenced by contemporary Danish style, from the public rooms and amazing commercial kitchen on the ground floor, to the larger bedrooms on the first floor and my favourite rooms on the second floor, with views of the loch and surrounding parklands.
As an exclusive use venue, the castle is perfect for a multi generational family celebration - there are various spots for special dinners, including the whisky tasting room in the Steading (where they can also hold a ceilidh) or the atmospheric Boathouse.
Whether you chose to stay in the cottages or the Castle, Aldourie Estate is perfect for a romantic, peaceful escape in nature, family time together or a special occasion. The estate is managed sustainably, part of a 200-year vision to restore parts of the Highlands to their former magnificent natural state. This has included a sensitive restoration of the original buildings, now beautifully reimagined as the luxurious cottages we stayed in, and the Steading building. I love that beautiful new spaces are also being created, like the Boathouse; built using a traditional oak frame, topped with reclaimed slate - using traditional craftsmanship.
I'd love to help you decide which of the stunning cottages or exclusive use properties would suit you, please do get in touch!
