Aldourie Castle, a 300-year-old baronial estate, has been thoughtfully reimagined for the modern day while retaining its historic charm. Situated on the enchanting banks of Loch Ness near the quaint crofting village of Aldourie, the castle is enveloped by 500 acres of exquisite gardens, woodlands, and wildflower meadows.
Nestled in the Scottish Highlands on Strath Dore, between the southern shores of Loch Ness and the Glen leading onto Drumashie Moor, Aldourie Castle occupies nearly 100 acres of parkland extending from its main residence. Initially documented as a laird’s house in 1625, owned by Mackintosh of Kyllachy in Nairnside, the castle originally comprised a rectangular main block with a round tower at its southwestern corner. In 1839, a two-story wing expanded its western side.
However, it was the extensive renovations undertaken in the 1860s by William Fraser-Tytler that metamorphosed Aldourie into the grand castle it is today. The redesign incorporated architectural elements reminiscent of 17th-century baronial style, such as oriel windows, ornate dormers, turrets, and decorative stonework. Further enhancements were made by the renowned architect Sir Robert Lorimer in the early 1900s, including the addition of a new wing. Extensive restoration work was carried out between 2002 and 2010.
Beyond its physical evolution, the castle has several notable associations. In 1893, Lord Lovat and Edward Fraser-Tytler purportedly established the Lovat Scouts military unit at Aldourie. More recently, in 2015, Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen acquired the property for £15 million as part of his extensive Scottish landholdings, establishing himself as the largest private landowner in Scotland. In 2017, the original walled Victorian kitchen garden and surrounding grounds were revived with assistance from students from the National Trust for Scotland. These gardens and parklands are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
Today, this historic castle extends a warm welcome to visitors who may rent accommodations within its stunning loch-side grounds. Aldourie Castle is now classed as the only inhabitable castle on Loch Ness and it is now used primarily for private use castle stays.
Above: The drawing room at Aldourie emanates the faded grandeur and timeless style of 18th-century English and Scottish estates. A harmonious blend of celadon blue silk adorning the walls, exquisite antique furnishings, and bespoke creations evoke an aura of refined elegance. This gracious space exudes a perfect equilibrium of beauty, character, and inviting comfort, a testament to the enduring elegance of a bygone era.
“The castle’s three floors offer rooms for all occasions, from formal banquets in the Dining Room featuring sublime produce handpicked from the garden to laid-back, idyllic lunches on the Terrace overlooking the Loch. If the weather turns, roaring fires keep the cold at bay, perfect for seeing in the night with a game of chess and a whisky or two.”
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