This hidden gem in the Scottish Highlands is so fantastic and exclusive that I almost do not want to share it with the world and give up my secret – but being a traveller and discovering new place is all about sharing it with people afterwards, so here it comes.
I was obsessed with planning a long weekend at one of the gorgeous castle hotels in Scotland. There seem to be hundreds of historic castles that have been converted into hotels in Scotland, so I spend weeks of research trying to find the right location. We ended up booking three nights at the Dalmunzie Castle, basically in the middle of nowhere, the heart of the national park between Perth and Inverness, just because the image on the homepage of their website was the best. (I am sometimes a geek like that.)
We flew to Edinburgh and rented a car there, which is strongly advisable because you can’t rely on public transport if you want a minimum of flexibility in this area. The castle lies in a little valley between green hills, thick forests and not much else around. If you rent a car you can go to the nearby villages and do a whisky-tasting for example, but the most outstanding quality I found about Dalmunzie was its ease and peace and tranquility (so basically just staying in the area and enjoying the hotel).
They don’t have many rooms, so there seems to be almost more staff around than hotel guests. And everybody was super friendly (staff and guests) that we immediately felt like home, when we were all sitting by the open fire together, sipping our whiskies and telling stories. The employees were extremely dedicated; the same one gave us a private whisky tasting in the cosy bar until the early morning hours and greeted us at the bottom of the stairs with a fresh and honest smile when we came down for breakfast.
In the summer one can do lots of hiking. On the premises there is also a golf course with nine holes and par 30; golf clubs and golf teachers can be hired. But we also especially enjoyed just sitting outside in the sun in the beautiful garden on the white wrought-iron chairs, sipping tea and reading. The food is fantastic, every dinner we felt like the kings of the castle or at least London’s high society enjoying a fantastic multiple-star dinner, accompanied with excellent wine and perfect service.
This is the perfect romantic getaway for couples, the ideal hideaway for stressed out big city dwellers, a perfect break-away for inspiration seeking writers and just the quintessential going-away for everybody who likes a bit of luxury and a breath-taking scenery. (Obviously this top-class experience comes with the according price tag, but it is so worth it!)
