Media
Welcome to my Highland home
Many crumbling Scottish castles have been rescued and turned into sumptous venues for house parties. Jenny McBain visits Ackergill Tower and Aldourie Castle.
The Lady Magazine - December 2011 - January 2012
(By kind permission)
An invitation to an old-fashioned Scottish house party lights the days with thoughts of walking over wild acres, taking part in traditional country sports and relaxing by roaring log fires. Many grand Scottish houses are crumbling; they squat toad-like on the national conscience awaiting princely transformation. But not so Ackergill Tower, situated on the far northeast coast near Wick.
It was rescued from the brink of ruin in 1987 and has been lovingly restored for use by guests who value exclusivity and privacy. The core of this castle dates back to the 15th century and it is the very embodiment of cosiness, combined with historical character.
The luxury Scottish house party promises guests the experience of living in stately surroundings without the headache of hiring staff or worrying about roof repairs. But what can you expect should you take the plunge and part with the considerable amount of money it costs?
Loyd and Townsend Rose (LTR), a bespoke travel company that offers a matchmaking service between clients and historic houses, has invited me on a whistle-stop tour to find out exactly what's on offer behind reinforced oak doors. My friend, photographer Margaret Soraya, and I are lured by the promise of excellent food, breathtaking views and good old-fashioned Scottish fun in the form of music, ceilidh dancing, disconsolate ghosts and bloodthirsty tales of love and war.
Helen heads up the staff at Ackergill. She and her team welcome us with a sumptuous afternoon tea in the drawing room. Margaret and I are both based in the Highlands but it transpires there are many surprises within a short radius of our respective homes. None is more charming than this place. The rest of our group arrives after a short flight from London to Wick Airport.
On a tour of the castle our attention is split between a commentary on Ackergill's past and the awe-inspiring views. The coastline in this part of Scotland has as many twists and turns as a compelling novel, all framed, window by window, in an ever-changing perspective. Ther's a cinematic outlook across the North Sea to the Isle of Stroma, and the Orkney Isles lie just out of sight on this slightly cloud cast day.
Dinner is a seven-course gourmet affair overseen by head chef Kevin Dalgleish, who trained at the Savoy. We are served in the great hall that is decorated with ragged 18th Century flags.
However, coffee and liqueurs are taken down on the beach by the light of a flaming bonfire, where some intrepid souls shed their clothes and dive into the sea.
Alarm clocks are considered unnecessary at Ackergill Tower. Instead, guests are awoken by the sound of a piper playing outside the bedroom, as a cup of tea is simultaneously placed at the bedside.
Delicious meals punctuate our day. After breakfast in the great hall we are taken on a high-speed boat trip and a tour of the Castle of Mey, favourite holiday home of the late Queen Mother. This is followed by lunch in a lochside bothy. If we had more time we could eat a meal within the surrounds of a giant tree house, built in the limbs of a living sycamore, or experience the atmosphere of the opera house when it is filled with live musicians. However, we're heading off to Aldourie Castle, another rescued pile, by the shores of Loch Ness.
Entrepreneur Roger Tempest is there to greet us and show us round his 40 bedroom establishment. This lavish property is filled with antiques and a substantial private art collection. Food is imaginative and well-cooked. Roger has laid on a duo of musicians who fill the castle's hall with rhythmic, haunting tunes that compel us to whirl our way through some Scottish country dances. While we catch our breath after a brisk Strip the Willow, we are treated to some lively Highland dancing.
Typical house party clients are paying for discretion and anonymity as much as luxury, but Roger lets slip an occasional anecdote. For example, The Harry Potter production team booked into Aldourie for a week's rest and recreation when the final film was in the can, and singer Paolo Nutini stayed here when he headlined at the RockNess music festival in the summer.
Fifty per cent of LTR's clients come from America, 40 per cent from the UK and 10 per cent from the rest of the world. A sizeable proportion travels by private jet. But are such people really immune to current economic circumstances? Andrew Loyd says, "Sadly, no one is recession-proof, but I think it is fair to say that the wealthy have a 'cushion' denied to the rest of us, and for them 'life goes on'".
This is good news for our built heritage and for those of us fortunate enough to be a guest at a private house party.
GETTING AWAY
- Ackergill Tower sleeps 48 and costs from £60,480 per week (£3,780 per person, per week) based on a minimum of 16 people staying. This price includes fully-staffed accommodation and all meals.
- Aldourie Castle sleeps 28 and costs from £22,000 per week (£1,100 per person, per week) based on a party of 20 guests. The price includes fully-staffed accommodation, all meals and alcohol.
- Book these properties through LTR: 01835 824 642 or www.ltr.co.uk
Make Contact
T: +44 1835 824 642
Emma Cripwell
Angel Publicity
01793 791657
07775 440143
