Inveraray Castle, Argyll, Scotland, UK
Accommodation Sleeps 13
One of Scotland's most historic castles
Immaculate contemporary accommodation
Stunning lochside location
Superb sporting estate
1 1/4 hours from Glasgow airport
Inveraray Castle is first and foremost the home of the 13th Duke of Argyll and his family.
It is an example of a remarkable piece of architecture incorporating Baroque, Palladian and Gothic styles.
Featuring four imposing French influenced conical spires surmounting the stone castelated towers, this unmistakably Scottish Castle was the first of its size and type to be built (at the time of construction) in an extremely remote part of Scotland.
The complicated story of the design and construction of the castle began in 1720 with a sketch prepared by Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, for the 2nd Duke of Argyll.
Vanbrugh died six years later and the design was sympathetically developed by Roger Morris who saw the start of construction in 1746 and worked with William Adam, then the most distinguished architect in Scotland.
Both Morris and Adam died in 1748 after completion of the designs and it was Adam's sons John and Robert who saw the project to completion for the 5th Duke of Argyll in 1789.
The present Duke and his wife have completely renovated the original family bedrooms in the castle and refurbished the reception rooms in an extensive programme which finished in 2009.
This completely private suite of rooms now provides immaculate 5 star luxury accommodation within one of Scotland's most historic buildings. The 6 double bedrooms are all en-suite and two of them have turret rooms adjoining which can either be used as dressing rooms or additional bedrooms for small families.
There is also 1 single bedroom which shares a bathroom with any one of the double bedrooms. On the main floor the reception rooms are delightfully light and airy and there is a formal dining room and drawing room and very comfortable cosy sitting room, library, breakfast room and kitchen.
Guests can, by arrangement, also have the use of the State Dining Room, Armoury Hall and Saloon in the main part of the castle.
The village of Inveraray with its distinctive white buildings on the loch shore make it photogenic and a popular highlands tourist destination, with a number of attractions in addition to the castle. The Georgian Inveraray Jail in the burgh is now a museum. Other attractions include the Argyll Folk Museum at Auchindrain. The Celtic Inveraray Cross can also been seen in the town.
The Inverarary Maritime Heritage Museum is based on the iron sailing ship Arctic Penguin, moored at the pier, along with the Clyde puffers VIC 72, Eilean Eisdeal, renamed Vital Spark, and VIC27 Auld Reekie, renamed Maggie.
The Bell Tower dominates the town, and contains the second-heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. The bell tower is open to the public, and the bells are rung regularly.
Travel
1 1/4 hours from Glasgow airport
2 hours from Edinburgh airport
Places of Interest
Oban
Loch Fyne smokery
Crarae gardens
Make Contact
Inveraray Castle
T: +44 1835 824 642
