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Traveling through Scotland, you can’t help but notice castles everywhere— from the massive site commanding center stage in Edinburgh’s Old Town to remnants of forgotten ruins peeking through leaves as you drive south and along the coast—a stark tower here, a crumbling stone wall there, a magnificent turreted facade over there—to the wonderfully preserved Heritage properties scattered all over Scotland that you pay to enter and explore on a self-guided tour.
But did you know… you can actually sleep in one!
Staying in a castle is like living out your inner child’s fairy-tale dreams.
Imagine this fantasy…
Park your car in the residential neighborhood, then walk through the arched entrance of Castle Levan…
Open the studded oak door, and step over the threshold….
Take hold of the ancient, medieval key…
and be transported a few centuries back to a different time in history!
Climb the spiraling stone stairs…
Enter the stunning laird’s suite on the upper floor…
Relax on the elegant tartan covered four-poster bed…
and let your imagination soar!
What was it like to live back then as a lady, laird or lord?
Time for daydreaming later, there’s more to explore…
Like the magnificent Great Hall…
where a knight in armor stands among weapons ready to protect…
giving you peace of mind inside the four-foot walls of your fortified home.
If you’ve ever dreamt of staying in a castle…then come to Scotland, cuz’ your fairytale can come true!
Over 2,000 castles once existed in Scotland. Some collapsed in battle. Others are slowly weathering away in the rain. But many of these ancient beauties have been renovated and turned into modern tourist accommodations. Talk about variety! There are palatial estates with luxurious ballrooms and gardens fit for a royal wedding all the way down to a self-service cottage on the grounds of a small privately owned castle estate.
There is a dazzling assortment to choose from depending on your budget, your intended destination and your preference for on-site activities. For a complete listing of all 151 properties, and to see their locations on a map, check out the comprehensive Visit Scotland tourism website.
Knowing that staying in a castle would certainly be a highlight our of trip, I began searching through Visit Scotland’s online selections months in advance to find the perfect fit for my family of three. And Castle Levan was juussst right.
Four Reasons why we chose Castle Levan
In a nutshell—we loved the intimacy of staying in a castle with fewer guestrooms, authenticity, affordability and easy accessibility.
Intimacy
Some castle lodgings are massive sites operating as exclusive high-end resorts with daily activities catering up to 84 guests. Which is nice if you’re hosting a wedding party or used to rubbing elbows with the elite. But for a quieter, more personal stay, Castle Levan is an excellent choice with just 3 guestrooms, and restricts guests to age 12 and older. The gorgeous Laird’s suite spanning the third floor sleeps 3, while the two exposed stone arched ceiling bedrooms, Knights and Archers, each sleep 2 on the ground floor and share a cozy sitting room.
Owner Kim greets her guests and gives them a personal tour of the castle and grounds when they first arrive, and helps with any information about area activities or restaurant advice. Guests dine in the Great Room for breakfast, but at individually chosen times, making it feel private and special.
Guests are free to explore and seek out little niches in the courtyard or the glass-enclosed conservatory.
Or squeeze through the Conservatory’s chainmail door, and follow the wooded path to a secret waterfall.
It was fun to poke around, and climb the spiral stairs to our room. We stayed in the Laird’s suite, and absolutely loved it. So spacious, regal, and medieval. Appreciated the decor touches including the candles, gargoyles, wrought-iron and hanging tapestries, and the sense of discovery exploring our surroundings. Peeking behind one tiny door, I was surprised to find a teensy sink and toilet behind our bed. The main bathroom, across the hallway, was a luxurious contemporary space with an inviting clawfoot tub (very relaxing before bed), heated towel racks, large marble counter & mirrors and a walk-in shower. Modern conveniences included a large screen TV, DVDs, shelves with games & books, a small refrigerator, coffee/tea/hot chocolate maker with assorted flavor options and even caramel cookies.
And that bed. Who wouldn’t want to sleep in this elegant canopied four-poster bed? I felt like a princess falling asleep on a cloud. The mattress on that King sized bed felt perfect and the fabrics so soft and snuggly that I drifted asleep immediately—it was honestly the best sleep of my three week trip. And the thickness of those stone walls absorbed all sound, so there was no noise to disturb your sleep! Had my husband not nudged me awake, I probably would’ve missed breakfast—which would’ve been an unfortunate mistake.
Soaking in the tub… was perfect for two in the exquisite Laird’s bathroom.
Authenticity
Castle Levan is a fortified three story Tower House, built around 1457. The unusual L-shape is the result of having two towers, the second built 50 years later by the Adam Morton family. It is one of 800 Tower Houses that once existed in Scotland.
A Tower House was the most popular castle built in Scotland between the 14th and 17th centuries. Each floor served a different purpose: lower floor was for support staff, 2nd floor housed the Great Hall, and the 3rd floor served as living quarters for the laird and lady of the house. Initially built for defensive purposes along the Borders, this Tower House architectural design became favored by nobility to keep small raiding parties away. In the 16th and 17th centuries, painted ceilings were added, and more attention was devoted toward comfort and socializing for the wealthy landowner inhabitants.
At Castle Levan, the thick stone walls, arrow slit windows, spiral staircase, turrets and parapet walkways along the rooftop battlements originate from 15th century. Renovation to restore elements of this castle began in 1980, but did not alter the structure. In the Great Hall, the wooden ceiling was replaced with 17th c pine and painstakingly painted in the traditional 16th c style of that time by artist Norman Edgar, president of the Glasgow Art Club and member of the Royal Scottish Academy.
Something I really appreciated about their renovation here was keeping the walls intact. In the guestrooms the exposed stone walls and wooden beams look medieval because they are. Unlike many of Scotland’s other castle lodgings which have covered up bedroom walls with drywall. Yes, drywall. If I’m staying in a castle, I want it to look like a castle, from the inside out!
Climbing up and down these ancient spiral stairs to and from the laird’s bedchamber simply added to the experience— knowing that the previous lords and ladies did so every day. The owners further enhance the medieval atmosphere during breakfast by welcoming guests into the Great Hall with a crackling fire and the sound of bagpipes playing. And even serve juice in black goblets. What a great touch!
This is the parapet walkway where guests are free to walk around Battlements on the rooftop.
And this is the view from the rooftop looking out over the Firth of Clyde.
An amazing place to watch the sunset!
Affordability
One of the best values among castle lodgings in Scotland! Stays from £120 (lower guestrooms) and £175 (Laird’s suite) per room, per night— compared to other castle estates charging £400 per room (up to £1500). Our rate in late May for the 3 of us was £185…a virtual steal when you compare the higher rates of unmemorable, simple 2 star hotel rooms in Edinburgh! Plus, an elaborate and delicious breakfast is included in the nightly rate, making a stay here wonderfully affordable.
Guests choose hot selections from a menu the night before and asked to specify how many meats. Hot choices include different types of blood sausage, bacon, ham, salmon, various preparations of eggs, and Scottish porridge with interesting additions. A side table is chock full of cereals, granola, bread. Breakfast is prepared and served by the attentive owners, Maria and Kim.
Accessibility
Located in Gourock on the beautiful west coast, Castle Levan is 28 miles west of Glasgow (20 miles west of the international airport), making it remarkably easy to access by train or car rental. Hidden in a residential neighborhood, the castle is an easy 5 minute drive or 35 minute walk to the many shops and restaurants along the harbor overlooking the Firth of Clyde or the port where you can hop on the ferry to explore the Western isles.
We spent the previous night in Wigtown (far south) and visited Robert Burns sites in Alloway on the 3 hour journey here. Then after breakfast on our departure day, we traveled 6 hours all the way up to Uig on the Isle of Skye to check in at 5:30pm for the ferry to Lewis Island. (Which I wouldn’t recommend–too stressful trying to catch the ferry with unknown traffic delays!) But driving to Oban, Isle of Skye, Edinburgh, and of course Glasgow, are all definitely doable.
Tips for staying in a castle:
1. When planning your Scotland trip, secure reservations for your castle stay first before booking any other lodging. Rooms fill fast. Especially when staying in a castle like this that has limited availability of only 3 guestrooms.
2. Try to spend 2 nights to really absorb the history and feel of staying in such a unique place.
3. Learn about the history of the castle before you arrive to appreciate it fully.
4. Pack a few items in a tiny nylon bag for your overnight stay, leaving heavy luggage in your trunk instead of lugging it up narrow spiral stairs.
5. Don’t over plan activities. Explore and enjoy the property!
Scotland was stunning. And our castle stay? Simply enchanting.
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