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Aldourie Castle

Aldourie Castle

Sleeps: up to 24 guests Bedrooms: 12 plus 6 additional self catering cottages

The castle’s three floors offer rooms for all occasions, from formal banquets in the Dining Room to idyllic lunches on the Terrace overlooking the Loch. Guests also have use of elegant living spaces, the library, the castle gardens, grounds and the boathouse.

Type: Celebration, Family, Seclusion, Adventure

Features & Activities: Garden tours with Head Gardener, Falconry, Highland games, Fishing, Golf , Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Wild swimming, Rib Boat Rides on Loch Ness, Whisky Tasting

Location: On the banks of Loch Ness, a 20 minute drive from Inverness

OVERVIEW

Aldourie Castle is a beautiful Highland castle that has been thoughtfully reimagined for today as a beautiful home and exclusive stay. Situated on the banks of the Loch Ness, Aldourie is surrounded by 500 acres of lush gardens, woodland and wildflower meadows.

Sleeping up to twenty-four guests across twelve bedrooms, Aldourie is a wonderful expression of Scottish country house design. The castle’s three floors offer rooms for all occasions, from formal banquets in the Dining Room to idyllic lunches on the Terrace overlooking the Loch. Guests also have use of elegant living spaces, the library, the castle gardens, grounds and the boathouse.

HIGHLIGHTS

The castle, grounds and surrounding countryside offer much to experience, from the comforts inside to the adventures outdoors, playing host to however you take pleasure in spending your time. All made effortless by Aldourie’s family of staff.

A castle made to feel like home

Every meticulous detail of Aldourie has been designed to make the guests feel entirely at home. Elegant rooms weave together comfort and character while the warm and welcoming team look after all who come through our doors. A stay at Aldourie is to experience the epitome of Scottish hospitality.

The castle’s three floors offer rooms for all occasions, from formal banquets in the Dining Room featuring sublime produce handpicked from the garden to laid-back, idyllic lunches on the Terrace overlooking the Loch. If the weather turns, roaring fires keep the cold at bay, perfect for seeing in the night with a game of chess and a whisky or two.

A thousand spaces each one of them yours

A walk through our gardens and grounds reveals innumerable spaces for breathing in all that Aldourie has to offer. From the uninterrupted Loch views at the Boathouse to the light filled Orangery in the shelter of the Walled Garden, there is a place for entertaining or quiet contemplation to match the prevailing mood of the day.

Explore the Highlands

Aldourie is your base for exploring the vast and eternal Scottish Highlands with activities woven throughout our 500-acre estate and far beyond. Go wild swimming in the revitalising Loch Ness or scramble up one of the nearby mountains to bag your first Munro. Hugh, the Caretaker and local guide, knows the stories and places worth discovering.

ACCOMMODATION

Bathed in natural light and knitted seamlessly together through colour, the rooms at Aldourie are a curation of comfortable and sympathetic living spaces at ease with their surroundings. On the upper floors, each of the 12 bedrooms has a story to tell – a singular and superb expression of Scottish country house design.

First Floor – Bedrooms  

  1. Lady Grey Bedroom (super king bed)
  2. Mackintoch Bedroom (super king bed)
  3. Tempest Bedroom (king bed)
  4. Loch Bedroom (queen double bed)
  5. Lorimer Bedroom (king bed)
  6. Fraser Suite (super king bed)
  7. Morris Bedroom (super king, but twinned on request)

 

Second Floor – Bedrooms

  1. Watts Bedroom (super king bed)
  2. Lady Cameron Bedroom (super king bed)
  3. Tytler Bedroom (super king bed)
  4. Tower Bedroom (super king bed)
  5. Chimneys Bedroom (always twin)

In addition to the castle itself, six additional self-catering cottages dotted across the estate are also available with exclusive hire

GROUNDS AND GARDENS

Wander through the tranquil gardens and rolling grounds, and notice a sense of calm wash over as the natural world opens up and ushers you in. Across 500 acres, wilderness interlaces with craftsmanship to create quietly contrasting moments for you to find and get lost in.

Walled Garden

Aldourie’s contemporary adaptation of a walled garden is a sheltered oasis of calm and tranquility. Withdraw to one of the hidden seating spots and let nature take hold of you.

Meadows and Woodland

Journey through fields and meadows of heather, grasses, wildflower and ancient trees across the sweeping grounds. Go wherever the path takes you – there are no wrong turnings at Aldourie.

Garden Tours

Join Elliot, the Head Gardener, for a personal tour of the idyllic gardens to unearth their stories and secrets. Learn how Aldourie is  working with nature to conserve the Scottish Highlands.

ACTIVITIES

A stay at Aldourie is an accumulation of timeless and memorable experiences in unique settings curated to leave a lasting imprint on you. From exquisite dining with menus inspired by purity and responsibility to wild adventures in the great outdoors of the Scottish Highlands, discover the sheer beauty and breadth of this extraordinary part of the world.

Here are some of the activities on the estate or close by:

  • Garden tours with the Head Gardener
  • Falconry
  • Highland games
  • Fishing
  • Yoga / Pilates
  • Massage
  • Electric bikes
  • Guided hike
  • Guided biking
  • Golf – Royal Dornoch, Nairn Golf Club and Cabot Highlands
  • Paddleboarding
  • Kayaking / Canoeing
  • Wild swimming
  • Archery/Axe Throwing
  • Clay pigeon shooting
  • Rib Boat Rides on Loch Ness
  • Cruise on Loch Ness
  • Whisky Distillery Tours – Singleton (Glen Ord), Tomatin, Glenmorangie, Clynelish
  • Whisky Tasting

CELEBRATIONS

A Place for any Occasion

There are those who come here to celebrate life’s most special moments and those who come to unwind from the everyday. Aldourie is a series of thoughtfully curated and characterful spaces designed to host any occasion.

The Boathouse

Carved in the shape of a boat’s hull and moored in the shallows of Loch Ness, our Boathouse is a wonderfully unique space for spontaneous gatherings and special occasions. Its terrace offers a spectacular view along the water – a breathtaking spot for sundown as the evening light bounces off the Loch’s mirrored surface. A sublime ending to any day.

GET IN TOUCH
 

ACCOMMODATION COLLECTION

The Balmoral

The Rocco Forté Collection’s Balmoral hotel is a luxury hotel in the true sense of the word. Complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant, tranquil spa and kilted doormen, the hotel is one of the city’s premier properties. Situated in what was once the North British Station Hotel, the hotel lies in the heart of Edinburgh where Old Town meets New, a True Edinburgh icon at an unparalleled address. While many Edinburgh hotels claim to have Edinburgh’s landmarks on their doorstep, few can say their own doorstep is a landmark!

Rooms : 167 Bedrooms and 20 Suites   Type : Couples, Family, City Breaks

Glenapp Castle

Sunday Times “Best Places to Stay Hotel” 2020

As you sweep up the long tree clad drive you will glimpse the beautiful façade of Glenapp Castle; encapsulating the romance of the Scottish Baronial style with magical towers, turrets, and crenellations. Oak panelled halls lead to the heart of the castle offering stunning views out to sea and the famous volcanic outcrop of Ailsa Craig. Beyond that you can see the Isle of Arran, Holy Island, and, on a clear day, the hills of Northern Ireland. Also available for exclusive use.

Rooms : 17 individually designed rooms with stunning views

Type : Couples, Families, Outdoor Actives, Golfers

Brown’s Hotel London

At Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel,  you’ll feel a strong sense of London, Mayfair and the city’s most celebrated galleries, restaurants, parks and shopping streets. Tradition, cut with a spirited English humour and cosmopolitan twist : playful touches, modern artworks and a fresh, unfussy ease among the wood panels, smart suits and afternoon teas. The glamour and gaiety the iconic address deserves, and the quality and charm the Forte name assures.

Rooms: 82 Bedrooms and 33 Suites     Type: Couples, City Breaks

 

View entire accommodation collection

Loch Ness, Scotland

  • "Incredible service ! The BEST tour guides, tour options and always available to help smooth over any "snafus" that we ran across during our vacation. 5-star, A+ rating from us."

    Clients of Jessica Thompson, Fairway Travel, Virtuoso

  • "....their time in the U.K. was PERFECT – loved everything you guys did for them, and sang praises for everyone! Thank you!! "

    Connie Hanes, Herff Travel

  • "Everyone, from the Tour Guides to our excellent driver, were amazing. All aspects of the trip were beyond expectations. Even changing our day schedule for outside reasons (like the airline sending my bag to a city 120miles away) they were always happy to help and move the schedule around so we could keep enjoying our trip. Everyone made us feel at home and like family."

    Client of Leah Molinari, Molinari Travel, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dream Escape was the trip of a lifetime. Excellent choice of hotels, tour guide was awesome, the planned tours were wonderful and very informative."

    Client of Trisha Rathke, VIP Travel Designs, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dreamscape designed an itinerary that combined an exploration of Scottish history and culture and a visit to some of the filming locations for the hit TV show Outlander. The tour guides provided were personable and knowledgeable and responsive to our interests. Our driver who was with us for the entire trip was professional and pleasant and again, flexible and sensitive to our interests. The hotels were magnificent and the pacing of the trip, spending at least two nights in each hotel was perfect. The itinerary was everything we wanted!"

    Client of Susan Morley, Journeys around the World, Cadence

  • "Sally Strange was wonderful so knowledgable, friendly and fun. 100% would use her services again. We feel like we have a friend for life! We LOVED our tours, where we ate lunch, and spending the days with Sally......Thanks (once again!) for looking after our clients so well. We so appreciate you. "

    Lauren Ainsley, Black Tomato

  • "Rosie...thank you for giving us such a world-class experience in Scotland. Everyone had such a wonderful time and your presence was a large part of that. Your warmth and generosity in taking care of us on our little excursion is so beyond appreciated and I can’t wait to work with you again soon."

    Alex Martinetti

  • "Thank you so very much for the amazing trip to Scotland that you planned for us!! It was truly a once in a lifetime fabulous family trip!! Not only were the accommodations perfect, the activities were above expectations, given the people involved with so much knowledge and compassion for what they do....Many, many heartfelt thanks for making this trip so very special for our family. "

    Clients of Kristen Meckem, Kristen Meckem Travel, An Affiliate of Brownell

  • "I work regularly with Michael Davies, who I can not praise enough! Michael is a gem to work with and always delivers extraordinary client itineraries. "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "We cannot thank you enough for all you did for us during our stay in Scotland! We loved every minute of it....and we loved you teaching us the history of each town and visit. "

    The Pogue Family - Clients of Amy Spence, Strong Travel

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    Pat Bowden, Red Letter Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell

  • "Michael does such an outstanding job with making sure every itinerary he works on with me is well thought out. He is attentive to detail and always allows for the clients interest to be reflected in their tours. He makes sure that the perfect tour operator and chauffeur is paired with each client. I wanted you to know what a pleasure it is working with Michael and knowing my clients will always be well cared for when traveling with Dream Escape! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Without a doubt, what made all of it so special and unforgettable was having the true pleasure of having Sally Strange as our guide. She was truly incredible..so full of life, energy, amazing historical knowledge anywhere we visited was extraordinary. Her sense of humor and fun personality made her extra special. Sally was a winner in every way."

    Clients of Betsy Talbot, Travel by Talbot (Brownell)

  • "Your team excelled on all levels! The execution of the itinerary was flawless!!! Well done. The clients LOVED Sally and this was just the second note from them about how exceptional she was. "

    Cathy Major, Cerulean World Travel

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    Krista Boyles, Unique Romance Travel

  • "I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your incredible work on this project, we really could not have gotten it across the finish line without you and your team 😊"

    Marieta Carrrero, Boost Journeys

  • "I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone at Dream Escape who helped in making the Gialamas' visit to London special. I know Dream Escape has many people behind the scenes that work on making an itinerary such as this flow seamlessly and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Activities & Tours - All the events and guides were outstanding.- Guides - Simply the best. All of them. All outstanding! "

    Black Tomato Clients

  • "Thank you for everything you did to make the entire trip, special presentations and events so special. It has added a sparkle in my life!"

    Gretchen Ashworth Stewart, Client

  • "Dream Escape, to no one’s surprise, is the best in the business. I cannot begin to thank you for crafting a perfect vacation for these clients. They had nothing but fabulous things to say about each and every event."

    Nancy Ebel, Virtuoso Travel Advisor

  • "Couldn’t have asked for a better 1st trip to London!......The sites we saw were the best & Sally, you went above & beyond to make it memorable"

    Shannon Marie Long - Reed and Mackay

  • "Delightful to spend time and see the incredible city of London with you all. Dream Escape for a flawless job in seeing the best bespoke sites, Sally you are amazing. Thank you again as this was amazing"

    Josh Whitaker - Owner, Rudi Steele Travel

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    Rob Arrow, Al Tayyar Group

  • "Lovely suite. Fabulous private tours. Everything has exceeded our expectations. "

    William A Heim, Client

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    Jean Newman-Glock, Signature Travel Network

  • "You were the heart and soul of the trip….I truly admired your sunny personality, sense of humor, organization and professionalism.  You also demonstrated  that a guide’s work is never done as you were constantly researching….. Did you ever rest??? "

    Sharon Delano, Frosch

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    Thomas Cohen, Client

  • "THANK YOU a zillion times over for choosing/assigning Rosie to be with this family.  She MADE the trip for them – there’s no other way to put it! "

    Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

  • "Our holiday in Scotland now tops their lists of best trips…… To their growing list of amazing and memorable first-time experiences, our sons may add fishing for trout and salmon on the River Tay; steering a motor boat on Loch Ness; and taking private guided tours on Culloden Moor Of the eight full days we were in Scotland, Alex and Mattie thought each and every day was the best"

    Michael Guadarrama & Trammi Nguyen, clients of Peter Carideo. CRC Travel

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    Max Levy, Direct client

  • "Thank you Karen and all of the staff and guides affiliated with Dream Escape…..the Flemings are having an awesome tour of Scotland. You all have made me look like a star! "

    Joni Gerace, The Travel Society, LLC

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    Clients of Courtney Regan, Affiliate of Brownell Travel

  • "Rosie was MORE than outstanding – she went out of her way to help us in every regard...She was so knowledgeable – we all loved her"

    Jill A. Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

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    Cindy Evans, Travel Consultant

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    Carole McFarland, Universal Travel

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    Donald M. Davis, President, Luxury Travel, Inc.

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    Peter Carideo, CRC Travel

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    Ann Lipschitz, Worldview Travel

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    Debra Fini, VWTI

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    Financial Times, How to Spend it

  • "It was, without doubt, one of the most spectacular weekends I have ever had"

    Country Life

  • "David Tobin’s an ace at getting inside private castles and estates and he’s well connected.... "

    Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

  • "The level of service they provide is outstanding. They truly care about every aspect of the trip to ensure you have a fantastic stay. Rosie is a hidden gem of a tour guide. Just fabulous."

    Yvonne Malka, Signature Travel Network, April 2018

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