Castles are one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of Scotland. For most of us, living in one will only be a dream but staying overnight is not and this experience should form part of any Scotland holiday.
I would say that staying in a castle can be such a great experience that it might even justify travelling to Scotland in the first place.
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Glenapp Castle offers a luxurious castle experience in southern Scotland, which is referred to as “the lowlands”. This area is very different to the windswept moors and mountains further north.
The lowlands have fewer attractions but maybe because there are no must-visit sights in Ayrshire, Glenapp needs to work harder – it has to become a destination in its own right. And I think they have definitely succeeded.
Read on to see whether Glenapp is worth the 2-hour detour from Glasgow.
Positives
- Perfect for a romantic getaway
- Luxurious rooms and grounds which are all maintained to a high standard
- With 17 rooms the hotel feels both private and spacious
- Very friendly and professional staff
- The glasshouse restaurant within the walled garden is a recent addition. It provides a different experience to the fine dining served in the castle’s main dining rooms
Negatives
- The tasting menu at the castle was not quite up to the standards of when Glenapp held a Michelin star. I was lucky enough to stay at Glenapp 8 years ago when I was blown away by the meal we had here. This time, it was not a meal I will remember but when I return I will definitely try the menu at the glasshouse restaurant
- Parking is in front of the hotel which makes the castle less picturesque from the front. It makes it difficult for keen photographers like myself to take photos of the exterior without getting parked cars in the shot
This post covers
Glenapp Castle FacilitiesHow to Book
Best Time to Visit Ayrshire
Things to Do in Southern Scotland
How to Get to Glenapp Castle
Overall View
Glenapp Castle Facilities
Every year the hotel closes for 3 weeks in January so furniture can be polished, and chairs, sofas and cushions reupholstered. Many items are even shipped to London for refurbishment. This attention to detail and investment shows.
At other castle hotels I have stayed at, such as Inverlochy Castle, the lack of necessary investment has been visible. At Glenapp you will not find a threadbare armchair, worn cushion or draughty window.
Common Rooms and Facilities
When approaching the castle, the car park in front of the building is a bit of a shame, but the building is impressive. It looks just like I think a Scottish castle should, complete with turrets and towers.
The wood panelled vestibule and staircase is smaller than the grand exterior would indicate. I think that goes for most of the castle. It feels smaller and more intimate inside than you might expect.
However, what Glenapp lacks in size is more than made up for by its luxurious décor and warm atmosphere.
Ailsa Craig is visible from the large living room which also features a grand fireplace. There is also a wood panelled library which is a perfect location to try a whiskey tasting.
Surrounding the hotel are 110 acres of well-manicured gardens, a small lake and woodlands. My favourite area is the walled garden where the glasshouse is located. During the summer tables are spread around the lawns.
Rooms
The hotel has 17 rooms located on the first or second floors. There is lift access to the second-floor bedrooms.
Luxury double or twin – all on the ground floor
Large double or twin – one room (Garleffin) has sea views. All the others have garden views
Grand double or twin with sea view – with views over Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran
Junior suite – have separate sitting room areas. These rooms are a good option for families with sofa beds in the sitting room
Master suite with sea view – 2 of these suits can be interconnected through a secret staircase. All have large sitting areas and views over the Ailsa Craig.
Room tip: There are no bad rooms. All are luxuriously decorated so I would choose the cheapest room category. They are the smallest and have limited views but every room has a seating area and together with the other common areas at the hotel you will have plenty of areas to relax in.
If money is no object then go for one of the master suites. They are fabulous.
Glenapp Castle Food and Restaurants
There are two restaurants at the hotel.
Fine dining is offered in the two elegant dining rooms inside the castle. 3 or 6 course meals are priced at £55 and £75 respectively.
When we visited the food was good but nothing memorable.
Maybe I am a bit more critical because we were blown away by the Michelin starred meal we had at Glenapp 8 years ago.
The second restaurant is the glasshouse, a restored greenhouse within the walled garden.
We did not eat in the glasshouse, but that have done a great job renovating it. With grape vines climbing up the walls and large flame heaters I can only imagine how cosy it must be for dinner.
This is where I will have dinner next time we visit! Lunch is a la carte with main courses costing £10-16. Dinner is a 2 or 3 course menu costing £39 or £49, respectively.
Activities Offered by Glenapp Castle
The hotel has its own app called “Glenapp Castle” which can be downloaded for free. It has everything from dinner menus to area walking maps and details on all the activities on offer.
The concierge also has a WhatsApp group which is useful for booking activities. Many must often be booked in advance so check out the app before arriving. A selection of the best activities is:
- Afternoon tea – served either in one of the dining rooms with views over the Ailsa Craig or in the glasshouse. I loved the décor of the glasshouse and would choose to have my afternoon tea there
- Bike rental – free
- Gin tasting – due to the price this is only really an option for larger groups
- Golf – there are 4 championship golf courses within an hour of the hotel: Turnberry, Royal Troon, Prestwick and Western Gailes
- Falconry – an opportunity to fly and handle a range of birds from owls to eagles
- Fishing – permits, rods and boat hire available
- Helicopter trips – towards the Isle of Arran or over Galloway
- Sea adventures – the hotel has a 12.5 metre covered-RIB for up to 12 guests which can be hired for trips to Ailsa Craig, Isle of Arran or for sea fishing
- Sea safari packages – multiday bespoke sea safaris to the island of Jura with a combination of nights spent luxury glamping and at the hotel
- Spa – guests can buy day membership for nearby Pebbles spa or Turnberry spa
- Walking maps – free walking routes and maps can be found on the app
- Whiskey distillery tours – private tours of Bladnoch Distillery can be arranged. They are expensive but if you travel as part of a larger group or are interested in whiskey this is a good alternative to the more touristy tour, mentioned below
- Whisky tasting – you will sample three single malt whiskeys. Minimum 2 people. Having virtually no knowledge of whiskey before doing our tasting they managed to convince Ben to become whiskey drinker!
How to Book
All online hotel booking websites offer this hotel. Or book it directly with the hotel.
Best Time to Visit Ayrshire
This is Scotland so the weather is always uncertain.
Spring and early Autumn are the best compromise between good weather and missing the summer crowds.
School holidays in July and August are the busiest and best avoided unless this is the only time you can travel. Midges are less of a problem this far south so should not be a key factor in considering when to go.
Winter months can see snow and temperatures between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius so wrap up warm.
Things to Do in Southern Scotland
For me this area did not look like the image I had in my mind of Scotland. Ayrshire’s scenery is closer to northern England with rolling hills and green fields. The lowlands are less about mountains and hiking than the highlands further north.
I think the main reason to come to this area is to stay at Glenapp Castle, but there are a few other interesting sights in the area:
- Ailsa Craig – most famous for supplying granite for the best curling stones in the world, but it is also a bird sanctuary. Glenapp Castle offers both boat and helicopter trips. However, cheaper trips can be found from the small town of Girvan, where prices start at around £30 per person
- Bladnoch Distillery tour – informative and interesting, if a little touristy, but a whiskey tour is a must when visiting Scotland
- Corsewall Lighthouse – a working lighthouse with fabulous sea views and Northern Ireland can be seen in the distance. It is also a hotel and restaurant and a good place to stop for lunch
- Culzean Castle – with its gardens, beaches, woods, adventure playground and the large castle itself, you can easily spend half a day or more here. As a thank you for his role in World War II President Eisenhower was given use of the top-floor apartment for his lifetime. If you have deep pockets it is possible to stay overnight. Please note that it is only open from late March to end of October
- Girvan – once a popular holiday resort, today many of the shops along the high street are empty. Sadly, with limited job opportunities in the area the only shops that seemed to be prospering were selling mobility scooters, fish and chips or alcohol
- Kelburn Castle – this is certainly not your standard castle! Originally built in the 13th Century it has had an external makeover by a team of Brazilian artists (read colourful, modern, slightly crazy paintings on the outside)
- Portpatrick – colourful traditional houses line the cute harbour front. Surrounded by green rolling hills the Dunskey Castle ruins are only a short walk away
- Seals – can often be seen around Corsewall Lighthouse or the turn off between Woodland Bay Hotel and Ardmillan Castle Holiday Park, just south of Girvan. They are easiest to see when the tide is in
How to Get to Glenapp Castle
Public transport is limited and private transfers expensive, so rent a car.
The two closest airports are Glasgow 1 hour and 45 minutes away or Prestwick, just over an hour by car.
Ferries for the 2-hour trip to Belfast run from Stranraer, 45 minutes away.
Overall View
If you are after windswept moors, mountains and the desolate landscape Scotland is so famous for, the highlands are a better choice. But if you are looking for a luxurious castle stay, this is the place to book.
With fewer famous attractions in the area Glenapp Castle itself needs to be reason to come all this way. And I think it definitely is.
Being a relatively short drive from Glasgow airport is a bonus and makes it a good destination either at the end or beginning of your holiday or for a romantic weekend away.
We have stayed at a few castle hotels in Scotland and this is by far the best. It wins hands down! So go on, book it!
