Castle Team Building Venues
Whether to motivate employees for the year ahead, say ‘thank you’ for your team’s hard work and commitment or simply get everyone out of the office to have some fun, team building events are an ever-popular choice for company away days. From invigorating sporting challenges to fun treasure hunts, we believe there is no better place for your next team building trip than a castle!
Why host a team building event in a castle?
Tiny turrets to majestic fortresses
How big is your team? Choose from castles large and small, the grand to the intimate, accommodating corporate groups from ten to 200 guests. Depending on your budget, you can opt for a more modestly-priced castle or a truly luxurious experience. Our five-star castles are ideal for senior management stays. With such a wealth of castles to choose from, we are sure to be able to find the right castle for your team building needs.
A huge range of locations
Within our extensive online portfolio of properties, we feature a mix of rural and city locations throughout the UK and Ireland. Some are situated just minutes out of bustling cities like Edinburgh and Dublin, making them extremely convenient for international companies who require close proximity to airports and rail links. Others, located within private country estates, are still within two hours of cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and York – idyllic settings that are easy to get to. Or you could travel deep into the Scottish Highlands to really escape the outside world!
A unique setting
Whether in the heart of the countryside or an inner city retreat, a castle - with all its history and fascinating architecture - offers an environment that’s completely different to that of your day-to-day office and would therefore be a much welcomed change of scenery for your team.
Combine company events in a versatile space
Often, a castle that is available for exclusive use offers access to many, if not all, rooms within the property, and many ballrooms and staterooms are big enough (or can be interlinked) to hold large groups of people. As a result, a company could combine two corporate events in one! A five-star castle hotel will often feature state-of-the-art conference facilities so, for example, you could fit in your annual company meeting or conference before a full day of teambuilding.
Ample space for outdoor activities
Vast grounds and surrounding countryside present you with space, freedom and fresh air. Castle grounds are also often varied in their terrain. A dedicated hospitality team can put together an itinerary of outdoor team building activities to make the most of the nature and diverse landscape on your doorstep. Many properties can arrange for experienced events and training companies to facilitate the day for you.
Inspiring and adventurous surroundings
Every castle has its own unique history. Being surrounded by historic artefacts, admiring the generations of characters depicted in framed oil portraits as well as being privy to the centuries-old stories that accompany a castle, could inspire your team, encouraging employees to be adventurous, come out of their comfort zone and be confident to try something new.
A castle stay is something to get excited about!
Booking your corporate team building event in a castle is to give your staff something to shout about, both amongst themselves but also with people outside of work. A castle looks and sounds impressive, particularly on social media. This instant gratification could have a long-term effect of boosting morale in the workplace. Also, what could be more incentivising to your staff than the reward of a truly luxurious setting? Think open roaring fireplaces, huge sumptuous sofas filling high, beautifully-decorated rooms and four-poster beds to retire to after a day of sporting events. From opulent interiors to a dramatic outdoor backdrop, team building in a castle will culminate in a truly memorable experience for your team and a company which is going to reap the rewards.
Team building ideas – what can you do in a castle?
Pretty much just what you can do anywhere else that holds team building activity days, but we believe a castle holds even more scope than other venues. Castles, with their spacious rooms and often substantial acreage of park or woodland, can accommodate a range of indoor and outdoor activities, from sporting to mentally challenging to creative activities.
Physical challenges
If your chosen castle has water on the estate – a lake, perhaps, or a river running through the grounds - you could opt for activities such as kayaking, zorbing, paddle-boarding or even cardboard boat building! The majority of castles in our portfolio offer outdoor space of some kind – from fully landscaped lawns to wild, open parkland. Such vastness invites activities such as archery, falconry experiences or clay pigeon shooting.
Sporting fun
Some of our Scottish castle estates are also adept at organising a day of Highland Games – don’t forget your kilts! Certain castle estates boast tennis courts or golf courses and invite you to explore ancient forests on horseback, learn how to fly-fish or have a try at off-road driving. The ample parkland and woodland is perfect for team cycling and hiking.
Relaxing activities
Some castles have their own dedicated cookery schools, specifically designed around corporate team building days. Some include foraging in the woods to collect your ingredients. Other properties have an onsite spa or similar where companies would be able to hold yoga or holistic activities.
Team dining
Should you choose to have your team building over a few days, you can break it up by enjoying one or more evening meals together in the castle dining room. This would be an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of a castle and also a chance for colleagues to get to know each other better on a personal level.
Over to you…
Hopefully the above is more than enough to encourage you to book your next team building event in a castle, the most challenging part now will be choosing where to go!
Our team includes the world's leading castle experts. Whether you have a detailed vision or a few ideas you'd like to expand on, we can guide you towards the most suitable venues and put you in touch with their owners to create the perfect castle experience. You can speak to our knowledgeable team and benefit from our independent advice 7-days-a-week, free of charge!