Glenborrodale Castle

Glenborrodale Castle, as part of the Ardnamurchan Estate, has just won the 'Hospitality' section of the Scottish Rural Awards, presented to manager Sarah MacKinnon at a gala dinner in Edinburgh on 26th March. This award - they're sometimes called the 'Rural Oscars' - is a huge boost to a business whose remote location can be a real challenge.

While the Castle used to concentrate on parties staying for several days - it was a very successful venue for Great Rail Journeys - it has recently changed its emphasis to an hotel offering bed and breakfast, and evening meals both for residents and non-residents. That said, it is still available for large parties and block bookings.

It provides everything one could ask for in a remote Scottish country retreat far from such modern distractions as television and the internet. This is the bar, a place of open fires, deep cushioned chairs and excellent whisky. It's one of several reception rooms, another of which....

....is the billiard room which, if anyone really wants to, can also be used for business meetings.

A double or twin room with breakfast ranges from £130 to £200.  This one is £160, and comes with....

.....a bath with a view.

The views from the castle are striking, and the layout of the building has taken full advantage of them, all but two of the rooms looking out towards Loch Sunart.

At the top of the range, and the building, is the penthouse suite. Along with bathroom, shower/dressing room, and every luxury....

....the penthouse has views across Loch Sunart and the island of Risga to the hills of Morvern.

The sixteen double/twin rooms in the Castle can be booked for special functions such as weddings, house parties and anniversary events.

The castle is particularly proud of its food, and the dining room is spacious and relaxing.  As far as possible, all ingredients are sourced from Ardnamurchan Estate, local crofters, local small businesses such as the Community Garden, from the local creel fishermen and from....

....the Castle's own walled garden and greenhouses.  It was this integration of the hotel with produce from the local area which was one of the features highlighted by the judges at the Rural Awards ceremony.

Guests from the surrounding area are welcomed for evening meals at which the driver, in view of Scotland's strict drink/drive laws, is offered free soft drinks.

Bookings can be made though freetobook and Booking.com, through the Castle's own website at Glenborrodale Castle, on 01972 500 275 or through the Castle's Facebook page.

Many thanks to manager Sarah MacKinnon and assistant manager Jacob Hunter

for showing me round.