Glenapp Castle

I filmed a wedding at Glenapp Castle a few years back, and it’s a venue I still think about often. Set against the most breathtaking scenery, the castle feels both grand and intimate at the same time. From a videography point of view, it’s a dream - incredible light, beautiful interiors, and endless cinematic backdrops both inside and out. The team at Glenapp Castle were fantastic to work with. It’s one of those venues that naturally elevates a wedding film, and I’d love the opportunity to return and film there again. Video by Reel Weddings

Makepeace and I are just back from a fantastic Hogmanay break at Glenapp Castle. We travelled as a couple to join fellow guests (approx 40 in total) for this three night house party stay. Any anxiety about how everyone would mix was misplaced - from what we could see, this was a great gang of guests and everyone we spoke to was lovely and we all got along great.||From the very first moment as we approached the castle. when several staff came out to greet us, to the very last minute when we were leaving, the attention to detail was impeccable. We loved our room, we ate the most magnificent food (including a 6 course Hogmanay banquet) and it was all washed down with very generous quantities of new year spirit! Afternoon tea every day was a highlight and I'm already missing that. ||We enjoyed a harpist on the first evening, a full blown ceilidh band on Hogmanay and a fantastic pianist on our last night who can literally play / sing you anything you ask for. Then there was the Maybole pipe band who played for us on the driveway before dinner on the second night. And another piper for the bells!||We were given the most interesting and detailed tour of the castle and grounds by Paul on New Year's morning. He is passionate about this project and there are great plans in the pipeline to make further changes into 2026. We had a trip to the curling rink which everyone enjoyed and there were other gentler activities on New Year's Day for those who wanted it.||It was a perfect way to sign off 2025 and welcome in 2026. Indeed it was nourishing. This is down to the lovely people we met whilst there (I acknowledge this can be a lottery) but also all the staff. Paul and Poppy are wonderful hosts but we also want to thank John, Lana, Ben and every single other member of the team there. ||D&M

Only reason ive left a four star is the menu issue. This was our second stay and after checking the tasting menus which are amazing-but since i had afternoon tea was unable to eat such rich food. I was then told about the "castle menu". And as the salon/lounge area isn't a private space i didn't wish to discuss my dietary issues in hearing of others. If we had known about the castle menu (I have previously informed them of my intolerance/s). I could have made an informed choice beforehand. So four stars from me despite not having dinner. Communicated the issues to a manager but his response was ill feed to management. Luckily the place has an angel in the form of a small English lass called jen. I explained my predicament and with no worries or stress asked if I could manage anything (and she would asked her chef bf to sort me out). But most importantly to me she showed zero judgement when I explained I couldnt but could do with a hot chocolate. She turned up a wee while later with a glass of red for my wife and and a metal jug full of hot chocolate for me. Jen is our hero and we will be popping down to the BISTRO in the summer simply because Jens running it, it'll be superb food and service. As is the rest of the hotel but not everyone can eat rich food and feel comfortable discussing dietary needs in front of others. James.

After staying here earlier in the year we decided to come back for my birthday. We stayed in the Ailsa Craig room which was amazing and had a fantastic view of the gardens and Ailsa Craig. We had afternoon tea which was very tasty and actually quite filling. We had booked for dinner but as the afternoon tea was so filling we opted for the castle menu rather than the 2 tasting menus on offer as we weren't that hungry. I had the chicken with veg mashed potatoes and peppercorn sauce which was amazing. For breakfast I had the eggs royale and again it was cooked to perfection. Will definitely be returning especially to try the bistro when it opens again for the summer next year. A big shout out to Jen for going the extra mile and making our stay even better. My only criticism would be the castle menu should be offered without asking the same way the other 2 menus are offered so guests can make an informed choice.

Hotel exterior and interior are fabulous. Staff very welcoming, warm and friendly. Decorated beautifully for the festive season.|Room overlooking gardens and to the sea was stunning. Fireplace made room very cosy and comfortable.|Staff had gone to the trouble of arranging some champagne as a welcome given we were celebrating a birthday. This was most thoughtful and a much appreciated gesture.||Afternoon tea on the second day was a lovely treat and most filling. We were particularly pleased with the efforts from the kitchens, noting light freshly baked scones. Tea and silver service a nice touch. Highly recommend an afternoon tea.||In the evening, as darkness fell, the hotel exterior is lit beautifully. It is most impressive and imposing grandeur.||Of the dinner, Cullen skink to begin with was good. Trout to start also done extremely well. Sea bass as a main dish was enjoyable.|So, what was disappointing? Lamb as a main dish was tough and I did not have the heart to send it back or to ask for a steak knife to try to cut it. It seemed to require endless chewing. Not impressed by the flavours either in that dish, as well as the preparation. |Langoustine as a starter appeared akin to one a lonely tired little prawn and some pork belly that combined soggy and tough at the same time. Rather poorly prepared and disappointing flavours.|And overall, service was incredibly slow. We were close to walking out just as the main meals arrived. The waiting staff apologised a number of times, explaining that a host of tables that evening had various special dietary requirements, meaning chefs are working on each table one by one and wholly separately, and hence service from the kitchen was reportedly unacceptably slow for many other tables.|Given the rather disappointing dining experience, I cancelled dinner reservation for the following night, which in itself was frustrating as we had been looking forward to it. Perhaps an unkind indictment on the kitchens that one evening was, as we left the dining room, several parties who having eaten in the dining room then complaining to staff of still being hungry, such that bowls of chips and salt and vinegar then started being served to coffee tables in the lounge. ||Overall, enjoyed the visit, and would return, leaving aside the one evening meal experience.

Glenapp Castle was a phenomenal experience. We were treated like royalty and made to feel so special. From the minute that we arrived to the very end, all needs of any kind at all were met with kindness and a smile. The location is beautiful, the grounds are amazing, the food is delightful... not enough good words about our experience there. We were utterly pampered!

Staying at Glenapp Castle (for 1 week) was truly one of the most magical and memorable experiences of our lives. The castle itself looked like an absolute dream and food delicious, but what made the stay extraordinary was the people who went above and beyond to make it special. Benjamin, the main hotel manager, customized our stay with thoughtful touches that made us feel at home from arranging a popcorn and movie night to surprising us with pancakes at breakfast. Jen, the manager of Azalea, showed such heartfelt kindness when I came down with a cold during our trip. She made me a special tea from the garden that was both comforting and healing. It was such a beautiful, personal gesture. In the evenings, Zack was on duty and I had a delightful fireside conversation about the world events and Scottish history with him over tea while adjusting to the time zone. That quiet, warm exchange was one of those small but unforgettable moments that defined the stay. We also took a cooking class with Ian and learned how to make a soufflé. It was not only delicious but also so much fun — easily one of our favorite memories of the trip. As someone who has stayed at many Relais & Châteaux hotels around the world, I can confidently say that Glenapp ranks at the very top. In fact, it ties with only one other property as the best Relais & Châteaux experience I’ve ever had — a true testament to its quality, warmth, and excellence. The combination of the castle’s breathtaking beauty and the extraordinary staff made Glenapp feel like more than just a destination. It felt like an experience woven with care, warmth, and joy. We left with full hearts (I actually teared up a bit as I left), unforgettable memories, and every intention of returning. The photos don’t do it justice. We did a photo shoot on the property because it was so nice and needed someone with a better bigger camera than a phone - Robert from the castle was the photographer!

We had an amazing stay at glenapp castle, the food was fantastic, but the staff do a first class job , making sure everyone is looked after. Special mention to Lana and Ewan , they do a fantastic service for all guests. Everyone needs to experience this castle.