Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Spa

Most Famous Former Guests: King Edward I (Longshanks), Oliver Cromwell, Queen Victoria.

Dalhousie Castle Hotel in Bonnyrigg, near Edinburgh, has the distinction of being Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited castle, and one which, in recent years, has been transformed into a tremendous luxury castle hotel & spa.

With 29 plush B&B rooms, a top class restaurant, excellent spa facilities and a serene woodland setting by the banks of the River Esk, it is now one of the ultimate places for a luxury, relaxing break near Edinburgh, but with the added mystique of having an enormous amount of history to its name.

THE ACCOMMODATION:

The castle has a great selection of luxury B&B bedrooms and suites, all of them with modern comforts and facilities but with classic styling and warm inviting colours. Some of the suites, though obviously expensive, are really the last word in opulence and spaciousness.

29 of the units are within the castle while six of them are located in the lodge, a nice old style country house hidden in the woods. Guests of either though can of course enjoy full access to the common areas of the castle and the grounds. Check out all your options on the booking page here. 

FACILITIES & THINGS TO DO:

The castle has many common areas to explore; there is the very atmospheric, medieval style, Dungeon Restaurant for some fine dining, the more informal Orangery Restaurant which has lovely views over the river, and outside you can enjoy a relaxing walk through the beautifully tended gardens and surrounding woodland.

There are spa facilities on offer too, including a multi massage jet pool, a Turkish style steam bath, an ancient Roman style dry sweat room, Kneipp foot baths and a rain & fog shower. 

Massage services are offered too as are various health and beauty therapies using the Darphin line of beauty products.

In terms of activities, inside the castle you’ll find board games and book collections, while outside in the grounds guests are welcome to try their hand at archery, clay pigeon shooting and falconry.

THE LOCATION:

One of the advantages of Dalhousie Castle Hotel is its proximity to Edinburgh. The city centre is less than ten miles away in fact and a stay at Dalhousie for many means enjoying all that Scotland’s lively capital has to offer before retiring to the peace and tranquility of the castle for the night.

Outside the city of Edinburgh, and near the castle, there are also some other interesting diversions and sights to be enjoyed. Glenkinchie Distillery for example is a must for lovers of whisky, with informative tours and tasting sessions available.

Another interesting, more alternative day out, maybe is the also nearby Butterfly World, which has a huge collection of butterflies and other insects from around the world.

There are also opportunities for horse riding near the castle at Lasswade Stables with lessons for all levels and for both adults and children above the age of two. And for golf lovers there is  centre which offers preferential rates for guests at the castle hotel.

The staff and concierge at the castle hotel can also arrange many other excursions and activities in the area and in many cases can get guests preferential rates, days out salmon fishing on the River Tweed for example or day passes to Edinburgh’s Duddingston Golf Course, so don’t hesitate to ask for advice and recommendations.

SOME HISTORY:

Dalhousie Castle dates all the way back to the 13th century, though of the original building only the sturdy foundation walls and the vaults are left. Most of the rest of the basic structure dates back to the middle of the 15th century when red stone from around the River Esk was used to update the building, and thereafter various modifications and small touches were done here and there throughout the following centuries.

The castle has long been synonymous with the Ramsay surname which is believed to have arrived in the area in the late 11th or early 12th century from Cambridgeshire, possibly in the company of King David the 1st of Scotland when he returned to his homeland from exile in England.

Not much is known about the Ramsays in England but it would seem that they arrived with the Norman Armies of William the Conqueror, but were possibly of German origin. Their original surname was de Ramesia and the first recording of the name in the area is of a Simundus de Ramesia being granted lands in Dalhousie. Not long afterwards, i.e. in the early to mid 12th century, it is believed the castle was built.

The first notable member of what was then recorded as the Ramsays of Dalwolsey was a William Ramsay who allied himself with King Edward I of England, also known as Longshanks, in his battles against William Wallace, also known as Mel Gibson. The King would in fact spend a few nights at Dalhousie Castle on his way to defeat Wallace in the infamous Battle of Falkirk, and was played with villainous aplomb by Patrick McGoohan in the film Braveheart.

The Ramsays were later to turn sides though and join up with the forces of Robert the Bruce, with William himself being present at another infamous battle; the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

As a sign of his increasing influence and power William was to also to become a signatory to the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 when Scottish noblemen appealed to the Pope to aid them in their struggle against the English.

The English would gain the upper hand in these struggles and before long they were in possession of most of the land and the castles in the region, including Dalhousie, and had forced the then King of Scotland, King James II, into exile in France.

Read more about the history of Dalhousie Castle:

WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY:

“From the moment we arrived we knew we were in for a treat. The castle is beautiful with a stunning views next to near by fields and stream. Breakfast was fantastic, which included a full complementary hot breakfast as well as the standard continental breakfast. The room was beautifully presented and comfortable. A walk around the castle and a local falconry experience on the grounds is a must do!..”

“The location was so beautiful. We loved sitting in the library, sipping cocktails waiting to be escorted to the dungeon for our 3-course meal. We had a wonderful time walking around and through the property. Everything felt so old-worldly and majestic…”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO CHOOSE YOUR ROOM OR SUITE AT DALHOUSIE CASTLE:

Location Category:

Castle Hotels in Scotland

Castle Hotels near Edinburgh