Dalhousie Castle Hotel And Spa

This castle is amazing. We came in December, so it was very quiet--we basically had the place to ourselves. We thought the construction was going to be done by the time we visited (according to their website), but it was still ongoing. While this didn't affect us in terms of noise/construction mess, some of the amenities we were expecting to enjoy (like the aquatic spa and the Orangery) were not available. Ruth in reservations did offer us some compensation to make up for the inconvenience, which was appreciated and thoughtful. We ended up opting in to the 7-course meal served in the Dungeon and I'm so glad we did!! It was a highlight of the trip! The kitchen (and our server!) did an incredible job making our meal a full-on experience. The courses were mindfully paired, expertly prepared (really--the preparation is next-level), and beautifully and creatively presented. Don't skip the falconry if you're staying here--it's 100% worth it! Take the time to explore the castle grounds and the castle itself. We booked one of the castle suites and it was absolutely the right move--we could have stayed here for a lifetime.

I celebrated my 40th birthday at Dalhousie and it was a wonderful experience! I was hosting dinner for friends in the Dungeon and the events team were so helpful in the run up to the event. ||We stayed in the top room of the castle (incredible!) and all of the extra touches were so sweet and made the stay really special.||The spa was still being worked on, but they actually opened it for us so we could relax before our dinner.||The staff were all so friendly and really hospitable. The upgrades to the castle are lovely too (we’ve visited before) and I can’t wait to see how it looks when it’s all been renovated. I’ll be back next year!

We had the honor of staying 2 nights with our CIE Tour Group. Beautiful Castle. Wish we would have eaten in the downstairs Dungeon Restaurant. Very nice room at the top on the castle 86 stairs up. (No Elevators). Great food and our tour group arranged a Scottish Evening. Very enjoyable stay!

My husband and I had an amazing two nights at the Dalhousie. It had the same charms as the Ashford Castle which I have been to several times, but for 1/10th of the price. The newly remodeled rooms retained the elegance and timelesness with modern comforts not to mention how comfortable the bed was. You can tell the new owners really care and the staff is proud to work for them. I met the delightful husband wife duo who has been cleaning the rooms for over 20 years together. Our waitress Kim who sang for the queen had the most amazing voice and we were thrilled to spend time with her. My massage therapist was excellent and loved working there and is looking forward to their spa remodel. The staff was all 5 star as was the food! To top it all off I left behind a designer article in the bar and sent an email to see if they had found it and could send it back to me, to my surprise when I returned home to the states it was in my mailbox! I can’t wait to go back.

I stayed two nights at the Dalhousie Castle to celebrate my friend’s wedding, and I have to say that they did a great job! The staff were all incredibly friendly, the castle is beautiful, and the grounds were fun to explore. I was also so impressed with how accommodating they were for my fiancée who was the only gluten free guest. They truly went above and beyond! The food for breakfast and dinner after the wedding were both great, as well. Lastly, our room truly made us feel like we were in a castle because it was huge and was stocked with robes and slippers. I would gladly come back to the Dalhousie Castle to sleep overnight or for another event!

Location was okay but in hindsight I wish I had stayed closer to Edinburgh. ||Atmosphere of the castle was quiet and withdrawn. No one was socializing, it was uncomfortable environment. The rooms are good and the housekeeping is excellent. Noise level was very quiet. Amenities unfortunately were not available because the spa was closed for repairs but I was not made aware of it prior to arrival. The hotel bar was quiet and hard to get a drink since the bartender was running between the hotel bar and the restaurant doing double duty. Hotel grounds were littered with trash on the hiking trails and along walkways. This facility has such potential but it does not appear the owners are putting any effort into it. Sad.

The staff were all incredibly friendly, the castle is beautiful, and the grounds were fun to explore. I . Lastly, our room truly made us feel like we were in a castle because it was huge and was stocked with robes and slippers. I would gladly come back to the Dalhousie Castle to sleep overnight or for another event!

an absolute fabulous castle full of rich history absolute fabulous castle full of rich history Beautiful scenery, big rooms, paranormal events (if you’re lucky) and PHENOMENAL staff. Shoutout to gavin, Ruth, the bearded main bartender, and the amazing elderly woman who runs the orangery. I will be back in the near future. Hopefully soon. My first time in Scotland and it was amazing. The only downside is a lot of stairs but it’s a great exercise! Please do book if you’re looking for an experience to remember and amazing customer service.

Staying in a castle has always been a dream, and this experience checked off my bucket list! The castle is located about an hour from Edinburgh and offers plenty of parking, making it very convenient. While navigating the website was a bit challenging, my husband reached out via email to inquire about the various room styles, and the staff was helpful. We ultimately booked a superior castle room with breakfast included. Remember to select castle as they have rooms in the main building which is not at the castle. Check-in was smooth, and the room matched our expectations: spacious with a foyer, a cozy living room, and a large bathroom featuring beautiful stained-glass skylights. The heating was excellent, which was much appreciated during the chilly October weather. The room rate included 90 minutes in the spa, allowing access to the pools and saunas--a delightful perk! There were hot teas and lounges to admire the peaceful environment. Breakfast was a classic Scottish spread with haggis, tomatoes, mushrooms, potato pancakes, and more. The service throughout our stay was friendly and attentive. The only drawback was the lack of wifi in the room, as we had to use it in the library instead. However, overall, it was a lovely experience, and I'm so glad we had the chance to stay here!

This could have been great- simply offering a tour at registration, for example. We bumbled around ourselves (inside and out) and no one seemed bothered by it but a tour would've been interesting and helpful. Dinner was terrible and we were literally the only people in the entire place (we ate in the Orangery, there is also a fancier "Dungeon" option but it looked empty or close to it as well). We paid 70£ for dinner (no dessert or drinks included). The castle is being refurbished now and they actually were packing up furniture around us! It needs the refurbishment- the carpets were dirty and the curtains were falling off- and the heater in our room didn't work! They also have a sewer problem (the alarm on the septic was going off).

We decided that staying two night here would be a great way to end a 17 day tour around Scotland Highlands, and it was. When I was planning this adventure Dalhousie Castle was running a fantastic deal on a two night stay packing. Great staff, extraordinary food and feel of relaxation with charm plus pampering. It was definitely a gem in this vacation crown. Just wanted to say that there were three staff members that really stood out, Two staffers in the restaurants, unfortunately I can't remember their names but they were from Greece and Spain were extremely friendly. The young lady that ran the spa was just great and accommodating.

My cousin has asked that we stay in a castle at one point during the trip, so we were sure to have her wake up in a castle on her birthday! We settled on this castle due to it being quite livable, beautiful, great reviews and close to Edinburgh. We booked the Queen four poster bed option for our rooms, including dinner in the dungeon, breakfast and cream tea. Check in was efficient and I appreciated the requested assistance with baggage as there are no elevators. The rooms were spacious and lovely with pretty views. The bed was comfortable. I didn't realize until too late that the heat hadn't been turned on, and then the room phone did not work. Thankfully I texted my cousin who called the front desk. It took a while for the heat to kick in and someone found an extra twin duvet that I could top up my bed with. In the morning we explored the grounds and then met a very passionate employee in the library. Some of their books are very old and anyone is welcome to read them in the library. The spa was quite nice. Apparently the massage therapist is quite good. There is also a relaxing water circuit included. I wished that we were staying longer, but we were headed back to central Edinburgh.

When we were planning to stop to Edinburgh on our honeymoon and I found out I could LIVE in a REAL CASTLE, I couldn't give them my money fast enough. This one looked so cool from the photos, and I loved that it's the oldest inhabited castle in the country (800 years!) The castle is about a 30-minute taxi or uber from the airport or the Edinburgh city center. That was OK with me for a castle experience, but you really have to plan to stay out all day and the cost can add up. I guess there is also a train station less than 2 miles from the castle, but it was November and us Californians were already having a hard time being outside for too long. The castle and grounds are lovely. We had dinner in the basement dungeon restaurant, and a great breakfast in the cafe. The bar is open until 10 and you can order drinks through room service any time. I loved how much history was provided. There was a grand library (playing chess with my husband in a castle library felt like peak sophistication) and dining room, a falconry area, a spa, and expansive, beautiful greenery, rivers and bridges outside. This hotel probably had the most lackluster service of our honeymoon. There are always 1-2 receptionists on duty, but they always seemed like we were bothering them when we stopped in for a question, not looking up from their computers unless to had to and looking annoyed. Most staffed seemed to do the bare minimum that was requested. No one offered to help us with our bags (they did in our Dublin and London hotels), so we were own for several staircases (no elevator). On our last day when I checked out, I mentioned to the receptionist that we would need a taxi to the train station in about two hours. When we came down with our bags and asked for a taxi, she said it would be hard to get one because it was currently school drop-off time and heavy traffic. She called 7-8 different taxi services who turned her down before we finally got one (and they were 20 minutes late). We ended up just barely making our train before it departed (we had first class tickets and I was sad I didn't get to check out the first class lounge) but she didn't seem to be concerned about how stressed we were getting to be while we waited. Also, if she knew that school drop-off time was a thing, why didn't she offer to call a taxi hours earlier and set it up in advance? The rooms were okay. They were old, of course, but the water temperature was hard to get right and never stayed the same. The shower/bathtub had a clear half-wall that didn't prevent the floor from getting soaked after every shower. There wasn't any counter space, only a small shelf, and the bathroom door didn't close or lock. The TV always turned on at the highest volume, no matter what volume you turned it off at. This could be a really fantastic experience, fit for royalty (how many other places have 800 years of history to offer and are freaking CASTLES) if they had better service and rooms.

We drove up at night and the castle was lit up. It was an amazing sight. This may be the only time I ever get to stay at a castle in my entire life. The staff was pleasant and made sure we were set up comfortably. It's definitely of older construction and we got a glimpse of what it may have been like to live in such a place back in the day (if we were of royalty haha). The grounds were beautiful and we took a million pictures. We had dinner reservations in the Dungeon and got to wait in the library while our table was prepared. It was a pretty spectacular experience.

This is where my husband and I got married. I will need to post more than one review for this location. This one is about the food! Everything was amazing. The blood pudding was great. The drinks/cocktails were addicting Dinner by candle light - three courses with a wonderful wine list. Morning spent eating breakfast in one of there lavish rooms or in the sunlit restaurant that over looks the grounds. The lemon curd was delightful. A lot of meat and cheese options, basic but quality usually on every menu there. Charcuterie board was a dinner option. Loved it. The customer service was awesome. I literally could go on forever.

What a wonderful experience from start to finish. Just returned from a 3-night stay and couldn't be happier. The room was awe inspiring and dinner in the Dungeon was incredible. The staff were friendly and extremely helpful. Kym was a delight, going out of her way to make sure we had a dream stay, and we did!!!

This castle hotel is a novelty! It's an old castle-style building that was used as a girls boarding school before being converted into the hotel. I loved the idea of staying in a castle and this place was actually recommended to be my an old friend, so my amazing boyfriend humored me and booked us a room for 2 nights. The room was cool - large bed, antique furniture, regal drapes. That's about where the novelty wore off. The bed was okay but not super comfy. And it squeaked. The sink creaked and groaned as you tried to turn the water on and the hot water never worked. The shower was great but it had one of those goofy half-doors so the floor got soaked. The walls are paper thin so yo hear everything. Remember that squeaky bed I mentioned!? Sorry neighbors! The breakfast served every day was fantastic and the staff all friendly. They have a Turkish Spa on premises which is free for hotel guests, and this was amazing. 2 steam baths to choose from, a cold fog shower, a foot bath, and a floating air bubble bed thing in a pool which was awesome. There are separate changing rooms for men and women where you are provided robes, slippers and towels. This was a welcomed day of relaxation needed 1/3 way through our whirlwind trip! Note: You can only take a cab into Edinburgh from the castle, no Uber. It's about $30. You can take an Uber back from town, though, and it was only about $22.

We were married here 20 years ago and it's still great! We spent an evening on this trip and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We had dinner in the Dungeon and a full Scottish breakfast in the Oranjery the next morning. Everything was first class.

Summary: You'll feel like a real king/queen during and after your stay! Only stayed for a single night with my family (3 people in 2 rooms) but what an extraordinary experience well-worth traveling to Scotland to enjoy in its own right. The direct-booking packages are outstanding deals. We got cream tea, dinner, breakfast, hydrospa facilities, and of course our stay all bundled together for less than what one would have paid for either dinner or room in any other large city. Meals and spa time/services should ideally be prebooked (can coordinate via email when they reach out) but can also discuss at check-in). ---Location: short ride from Edinburgh proper. Also accessible via train - convenient yet feels so remote in a most relaxing fashion. This is legitimately THE oldest continuously-inhabited castle in Scotland, having hosted such individuals as Oliver Cromwell and even the attendant of the late Queen Elizabeth II on her final journey from Balmoral to Holyrood Palace. While the majority of the buildings date to "merely" the 17th century (Scots are tough to impress with history...), so many lovely artifacts date from throughout its history, including original suit of armor, tapestries, tons of artwork, a throne that's just there with no fanfare but perfectly accessible for anyone to sit on, a falconry that runs through most daylight hours (right now that means get there before 3 PM!), beautiful grounds with streams and bridges. It's a large enough property to feel luxurious and expansive, but not so large that one would get lost or have trouble navigating. ---Cream Tea: at the Orangery, a relatively modern addition to the castle with massive windows. Perfect tea/coffee/cocoa, scones, butter, jams-all fresh and either homemade or locally-made. We did not order the afternoon tea proper given proximity of dinner, but our neighbors who did got beautiful towers of dainties and seemed to be munching delightedly. ---Dinner: three-course dinner PLUS cheese-course included in the package in their former converted dungeon/stables now become a beautifully intimate and comfortable venue. We were instructed to start with pre-dinner drinks and courses ordering upstairs in the luxurious Alexander Lounge to allow greater spacing among parties which was just lovely. We then enjoyed all of the courses, all made with such pride to represent the best and most delicious of Scottish fine cuisine. ---Breakfast: back at the beautiful Orangery. Delicious continental portion (FRESH-baked pastries and fresh fruits as well as yoghurts and meats) plus hot portion. I got the benedict royale to enjoy scottish smoked salmon with a perfectly-poached egg and rich hollandaise sauce over, and enjoyed every bite. ---Hydrospa: reportedly the first of its kind in Scotland. Feels like what one would find at the Mandarin Orient. Wear shorts or swimwear with luxurious bathrobes and safe, grippy slippers provided. Rex et Regina locker rooms for changing, but coed with entry. We got a reservation via phone or dropping by, so most of the time there was only my partner and myself, though it never felt crowded even when a couple of other couples joined. there is a large pool with gloriously strong jets and a water cannon that fixed my travel knots; as well as a "water bed" that was effectively a metal lounger sunken in the poor with powerful jets blasting through the lounger slats. There was a humane-temperature, Roman-style Lacona that was a dry sauna less blistering hot than is typical so that one could comfortably lie upon the ergonomic tile bench. The wet sauna next to it was hotter for those who like that. There were an array of different style "showers" eg rainforest with different lights, temperatures, and waterfall patterns. There was a nice little footbath area with stones. There were also two pleasant lounge areas, one by the pool with cool water available, and the other separate with a full array of teas/coffees/water of different temperatures as well as Walker shortbread cookies. Spa treatments are available but appears to require advance booking so we did not partake. The rooms apparently use the same spa line products so we got to enjoy longer in our own room tub. ---Rooms: elegant, discreet, and classic-appearing yet with proper modern amenities like excellent temperature control for air and water, comfortable mattresses, towel warming racks, kettle for tea with nice luxury amenities included.

For the sheer lack of customer service! Rooms are outdated and smelled of mildew. The husky older "gentleman" working reception hates his job. The only good thing going for them is the facade of the castle. All looks from the outside, disappointing from the inside. Noticed that all the positive reviews are from folks that did not book a stay. Check out the horrible google reviews as well. There are plenty of other wonderful castles in Scotland with better customer services and better rooms. Once we arrived at the other castle, we realized we shouldn't have been treated the way Dalhousie treated us!

I just came home from a lovely trip to Dalhousie Castle (who knew this was on my doorstep), an 800 year old inhabited castle based just outside of Gorebridge. I can imagine it would make for a fantastic venue, with a dungeon dining room (complete with suits of armour for the medieval experience) and a spa. We had an afternoon tea/spa deal for the afternoon that gave us a glass of champagne (Laurent Brut, if you care), a tea for two, catered for personal choice i.e. pescatarian for me, and no fish for my dining partner. There is also a gluten free choice, so I think the bulk of choice is covered rather well, and I was pleased that we were not presented with a 'tough, this is what you get' attitude. Photos of our tea are posted up for your viewing pleasure. Apart from the tea (lots of mini cakes and a variety of tartines and sandwiches), we also had an amuse bouche of apple punch (albeit forgotten, we had to ask for it) which was utterly delicious. All of the savouries and sweet were top notch, and there wasn't a crumb left at the end. Teas wise we both had the Persian pomegranate (Novus tea), which was a heady fruity tea, charmingly presented with a timer to let you know when the tea had steeped for long enough, and you could remove the tea from the pot. The only small gripe was that one of the jams was already partially used, not sure we expected that (although less food waste right?). All over a leisurely 3 hour lunch, with no hassle from the staff or heavy hints for us to move away from the conservatory dining area. We then moved onto the spa - facilities wise, we were one the fence - no swimming pool (so my goggles were useless), but plunge pool, tropical shower, steam room and a not-very-hot sauna. The steam room temperature was perfect, and I could have stayed there for hours. There were also foot baths which I felt were rather disappointing - a small bath with stones, I was left feeling underimpressed. The spa was also extremely busy, and changing area facilities crowed with about 6-8 women jostling for space, so be aware that at the weekend it's quite busy! Finally, we went for an hour treatment each - I plumped for a massage and facial, both really relaxing, and the facial treatment didn't antagonise my super sensitive skin (I know, I probably shouldn't take the risk... but...eh. you only live once right?) and my friend went for the full hour massage. Both thoroughly enjoyed and came out with a smile on my face. Would I go back? Yes, the tea and treatments were great, even if the spa itself was left wanting. The castle itself is stunning (check out the chapel/restaurants/rooms/ceiling/grounds..wow) and even if I can't afford the rooms I can certainly look on in admiration.

We absolutely loved our experience at this castle! Our suite was spectacular. The staff were friendly and helpful. The multi course dinner in the dungeon was really a treat and the included breakfast was also tasty. We would highly recommend for anyone looking for an overnight or short getaway. I didn't get to do a spa treatment this time but their prices seem reasonable for some interesting treatments and I'm sorry I missed out.

We stayed here because we did the Falconry Experience (which was FANTASTIC and I highly recommend) and I was a little underwhelmed. While the castle outside and common areas were beautiful, the rooms and some of the services left something to be desired. While the rooms were huge they were very dated (not castle dated) and carpet and walls needed some remodeling. Some other things that rub us the wrong way: Restaurant closed early due to a large group coming in. Well really how was that our fault, we were guests too! Do you know how hard it was to find food in a tiny village in Scotland on a Sunday - next to impossible. Also, we were so excited to use the spa, but when we went downstairs we were told it closed early. When we asked about the posted closing time they simply stated we decided to close early. It was very frustrating as a guest to have them close things on a whim and really felt like we did not get my moneys worth at all! The reason I gave this place 3 stars at all was for the Falconry. I suggest you partake in that and then go find another place to stay.

This review is 100% for the falconry centre, so take that as you will: Let's get one thing very clear: I am TERRIFIED of birds. I will walk on the other side of the street when there is a crow in a tree above me, I don't trust sparrows and frequently fall over trying to side step pigeons - I am a full blown ninny when it comes to birds... I'm telling you this so when I saw that I LOVE falconry, you understand how awesome this little afternoon was. I first happened upon this place as part of an event where myself and 19 Yelpers went out to check out the archery/falconry lessons. It's probably a good thing that I went in a "host" capacity, as I wasn't allowed to wimp out on holding the birds and then... I wouldn't have met Flash. Flash the owl singlehandedly changed my opinion on this sport - he was sassy, beautiful bird and far less terrifying to hold than I expected. Our trainer for the afternoon was informative and cheerful and Flash and his feathered counterparts (a raven(?) and an eagle who were equally impressive but much scarier and (in my opinion) had a lot less of a personality than good ol Flash) were obviously in good hands. I've since sent three different visitors this way for the same experience and all came back raving (and with great new social media profile pictures handling a badass bird). So I can't speak to the hotel or the food but I can say, falconry with a backdrop of a castle makes for one memorable afternoon!

I'm not good at writing long reviews, so to the point... Great castle. Had our wedding here in July 2015. Rooms were nice, staff were nice, grounds are beautiful, owl and hawk were amazing. Probably one the best parts was our piper Andrew. Super friendly and a wealth of knowledge. And a darn fine piper to boot. The wedding wouldn't have been the same without his participation.

First off: I haven't stayed here, I just visited the Castle for a morning/afternoon. Myself and two friends took advantage of the Falconry Experience offered at Dalhousie Castle and had an amazing morning playing with falcons, owls, buzzards, hawks and eagles. If you like birds at all I'd recommend it! Afterwards we had lunch in The Orangery cafe/restaurant, hidden away down some corridors in the castle. The food was delicious..although I was starving fter being outside all morning and hunger, being the best sauce, may mean my opinion is a tad biased! We just had some sandwiches and paninis, which were served wit handmade crisps, salad and coleslaw. It was a bit pricey for what it was but given the view of the river afforded by the huge windows of the restaurant, and my ravenous hunger, I was happy to pay. It was a lovely afternoon/morning and the castle itself (and surrounding area) is well worth a look.

This place is AMAZING... Great staff, very accommodating. We had a great time. Make sure you ask to see the real dungeon (not the restaurant) and ask about the ghost of Lady Catherine. I would definately stay there again.

Hmm... Certainly a beautiful exterior and very nice grounds to take a wee stroll, however, as far as castle stays go, I'd recommend elsewhere. This was a sweet surprise gift of a weekend retreat and for this I remain most delighted and grateful. I've since learned that the top choice Culzean Castle was unable to accommodate us on the chosen dates, and so to Dalhousie we were set to go. The interior doesn't seem to hold as much sway as its exterior, and many of the rooms - while open for exploring - felt very tired and in much need of a good dosage of TLC. Aside from a single somewhat disconcerting episode with a most stern and grumpy looking groundskeeper, the remaining staff were wonderfully attentive and unaffectedly friendly. The hotel is not lacking in that department. I do wonder that Dalhousie has turned into somewhat of a cookiecutter wedding/event destination and almost all of its energies goes toward catering to this world. No fault in this, except that it leaves non-event guests feeling...well, not neglected...but... maybe/possible/slightly blandly or indifferently treated?? An architecture-junkie at heart and given Dalhousie's history and potential, I was a little let-down. The books in the library wouldn't even be taken away for a pence - an insult to what great castle libraries could be! The most well-kept reading material provided included the daily newspapers and wedding planning literature and idea binders. Just made me a little sad that such a sitting room has potential for more and isn't given the time of day. And so it goes with several of the other featured rooms. You get a sense of what it might have and could be, but are left with what it is. Certainly easily overlooked when decked out with wedding paraphernalia and viewed in the eyes of festive guests. But otherwise?? The dungeon restaurant and orangerie offered good hotel fare, atmosphere, (and great service!), but nothing that particularly stood out to be above and beyond. (Oh but the desserts! They do an awfully nice array of desserts!! Even while lacking a sweet-tooth I was up to my elbows in lemon-this and chocolate-that :) As for the spa: it's klein aber fein, and because we were the only ones there, it turned out to be quite a lovely few hours lazing about. The other half skipped the more frou frou offerings and just dozed in the really lovely sunny and generously-windowed conservatory, while I dabbled about. For two there was plenty of space for some delightful and intimate tête-à-tête, while three or more would have soon become a crowd. Given the lack of crowds, we were able to delight in our good fortune. Still, it'd be recommended to adjust your expectations if you are a staying at Dalhousie individually and not as part of some bigger industry event or festive occasion. All that said, still had a brilliant time and we laughed ourselves nice and silly. Got our galoshes on and went exploring around the castle grounds. We didn't do the falconry tour but did spend a good bit of time just looking at the birds. Captive animals make me sad, and so I'm going to pretend and hope that they are more than well-taken care of, and just stick to this belief until proven otherwise.

Went of the Laurent-Perrier Champagne dinner. The castle itself has a nice interior decor. We were greeted at the library with a glass of champagne and canapes. It was a fun and interesting sociable experience as dinner was served in a round table with other guests you've never met before. There were five courses, each course paired with a different glass of champagne. They described each champagne in detail and gave us tasting notes. The food was also very good and paired well with the drinks. I would definitely recommend the champagne dinner. At £75, the price was very reasonable.

If you wish to stay in a castle rich in history, then Dalhousie Castle at Bonnyrigg, alongside the River South Esk in the rolling Midlothian countryside makes a fabulous choice. Dating back to the 13th century and built by the Ramsays of Dalhousie, 'tis a way to travel back in time and touch base with King Edward 1, (Edward Longshanks) who stayed here before going to Falkirk to defeat William Wallace. You will be fascinated by the narrow spiral staircase dropping down from the first floor to the top of the forbidding bottle dungeon. From here prisoners were dropped by ropes into the ten foot square windowless dungeon and their chilling scoremarks can still be seen in the stonework! The rooms at Dalhousie are historically themed and you can choose from the de Ramseia Suite, originally the well guardroom, now carefully restored with polished wooden floors and medieval style furniture. The Cockpen Room with glorious views over rolling parkland towards the distant Lammermuir Hills. There is the Sir Walter Scott Room festooned with artefacts from his visits to the Castle in the early 19th century. The Sir William Wallace Room leads to the Castle battlements whilst the Robert the Bruce Room, richly decorated with a dramatically canopied King Size bed, will enable you to relive times fraught with danger and intrigue. Much has been done to bring the Castle to its former glory whilst providing the comforts of living in the 20th century and Neville Petts, director and general manager, has been instrumental in this monumental restoration. He and his attentive staff, especially Castle Steward Pipe Sergeant Andrew Sharp, who plays the Pipes at the many receptions that take place in the Castle and leads a fascinating historical tour, offer incomparable service to make your visit a truly memorable one. I think any time is a great time to stay and enjoy the Scottish Banquets which are held in traditional style at Dalhousie in the richly converted ancient barrel-vaulted dungeons. A typical "Ramsay" Scottish Banquet Menu is Finnan Haddock Pate to start, then locally produced Haggis accompanied by Clapshot, prime Scottish Sirloin of Beef complimented by a green peppercorn and mustard sauce with selection of seasonal vegetables. Other Scottish fare comprises Soup of Leek and Pear flavoured with Stilton cheese and double cream, Roast Haunch of Highland Venison with Port wine and Black Cherry sauce or Loin of Border Lamb (this time bought, not stolen by marauders over the Border!) cooked pink, enhanced with a Heather Honey and Raspberry reduction. Again, the joys of Scottish cuisine with its French influence for during the 15th and 16th centuries these two countries had long established friendships. Scotland is a place for all seasons, all reasons. There are hotels and hostels, bed and breakfasts - prices in all ranges. Even if you do not wish to drive on the right side of the road, you can travel by train or bus, frequent schedules make journeying very easy and accessible. You can fish, play golf or be the quintessential traveller and explore the highways and byways of this truly exquisite land, a land containing more history per square mile than most entire countries. Visit Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie took stand and his loyal followers were massacred by the English army in 1746. A hush still lies over this area and you may feel the prickling of hair on your arms as you walk by stones marking the spots where each Heeland Clan fell that day. Loch Ness invites you to meet the monster or visit Cawdor Castle, the most romantic castle in the Highlands where fine collections of paintings can be viewed. Culture, history, nature and so much more abound in this country but don't take my word for it, find out for yourselves, you will be well pleased!