A castle is a memorable venue for a birthday celebration. Here are some of our tips for those celebrating special birthdays.
Glin, Co. Limerick, Ireland
Sleeps 30 guests in 15 rooms. From €14,560 for 2 nights (includes breakfast, dinner quoted separately).
Our Experts Say:
Inside this 700-year-old castle you will find engraved furnishings and gilded frames complementing floral fabrics and pastel-hued walls. Wander the bountiful walled garden, dine on delicious, seasonal cuisine and gaze over the river to the rugged landscape beyond from your delightfully-styled, characterful bedroom. See more
North Middleton, nr Edinburgh, Scotland
Sleeps 28 guests in 13 rooms. From £10,000 per night (includes breakfast, dinner quoted separately).
Our Experts Say:
Built in 1430, Borthwick Castle is located in a pastoral valley, just 12 miles from Edinburgh. Once the refuge of Mary Queen of Scots and the Earl of Bothwell and besieged by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, its Medieval ambience has been retained to this very day. Guests can enjoy one of 10 unique luxurious bedrooms in the castle and 2 rooms within the castle grounds. The castle's Great Hall, with large fireplace at one end, offers a superb setting for dinner. See more
Corofin, County Clare, Ireland
Sleeps 8 guests in 6 rooms. Self-catered from €2560 for 3 nights.
Our Experts Say:
Step back in time in this beautifully-restored and thoughtfully-furnished tower, close to the Burren National Park and the Wild Atlantic Bay coastal route. Set across four floors via a curved stone staircase, naturally atmospheric spaces feature modern comforts and a cosy aesthetic. Absorb its palpable history and admire far-reaching landscaped views from a castle rooftop. See more
Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland
Sleeps 30 guests in 15 rooms (optional accommodation for a further 49 guests). From £8,800 per night (includes breakfast, dinner quoted separately).
Our Experts Say:
The castle is enviably located in the heart of a 2000 acre estate of woodlands, countryside and an idyllic park of about 500 acres laid out from 1800 onwards, and is an exceptional place for a diverse range of groups to enjoy themselves. The castle can be yours exclusively for a variety of functions including private house parties, weddings, conferences and garden tours. See more
Co.Fermanagh, Ireland
Belle Isle Castle sleeps 31 guests in 16 rooms (optional accommodation for a further 64 guests). Self-catered from £3000 per night.
Our Experts Say:
The sprawling 17th-century, country-manor-style castle sits peacefully on the peaceful Upper Lough Erne, framed by trees and a rugged parkland. Large bay windows and elegant interiors invite you to make yourselves at home here. Watch the sunset across the water and the mesmerising ancient hills of Fermanagh from your own personal island setting. See more
Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Sleeps 6 guests in 3 rooms. Self-catered from £868 for 3 nights.
Our Experts Say:
Lochhouse Tower is an historic, luxurious self catering property sleeping up to 6 guests. Located in Moffat, in the heart of southern Scotland. See more
County Meath, Ireland
Sleeps 18 guests in 9 rooms. From €16,885 for 3 nights (includes breakfast and dinner).
Our Experts Say:
Just an hour from Dublin, a dramatic castellated outline tops a welcoming façade, glistening with long sash windows. Grand, elegant interlinking Georgian rooms flood with natural light, whilst stunning plasterwork decorates throughout. Ideally situated for scenic lake views and perfect for groups of friends or family, this secluded retreat, inhabited by the same family for 400 years, will remain with you long after your stay. See more
Glenisla, Perthshire, Scotland
Sleeps 16 guests in 7 rooms. Self-catered from £4403 for 3 nights.
Our Experts Say:
Surrounded by stunning scenery in Glenisla, Forter Castle was built in 1560 and enjoys a history as rich as the countryside in which it sits. All who come to stay at Forter quickly learn to use the castle as their own, and greatly enjoy the warmth of a charming home and the magnificent outdoors that surround it. See more
North Berwick, near Edinburgh, Scotland
Fenton Tower sleeps 12 guests in 7 rooms (optional accommodation for a further 8 guests). From £3,850 per night (includes breakfast, dinner quoted separately).
Our Experts Say:
Fenton Tower is a remarkably unique place to stay and was originally built as an ancient monument. The property is a magnificent, fortified 16th century tower located just 20 miles east of Edinburgh between Gullane and North Berwick, and can offer luxury accommodation for up to 16 people. See more
Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland
Sleeps 27 guests in 15 rooms. From €34,000 for 2 nights (includes breakfast and dinner).
Our Experts Say:
Home to a Duke and Duchess and with original defence walls thought to be the oldest in Ireland, this magnificent castle has an instant warmth, and portrays an immense history throughout Gothic-styled rooms. Lose yourself in enchanting woodland and colourful eight-acre gardens, delight in fresh and thoughtfully-created cuisine and explore the wonders of Lismore’s conservatory and unique art gallery. See more
Bree, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland
Sleeps 14 guests in 7 rooms. Self-catered from €1300 per night.
Our Experts Say:
This striking restored riverside 13th-century castle enjoys long views of the hills of County Wexford and the ethereal Blackstairs Mountains, whilst being only two hours from Dublin. It is run by the owner, who oversaw the renovation from complete ruins, and boasts dramatic stone walls which house differently-sized, self-catered apartments, each beautifully decorated, ideal for families and couples alike. See more
Ayrshire Coast, West Kilbride, Scotland
Sleeps 14 guests in 6 rooms. Self-catered from £4600 per week.
Our Experts Say:
Law Castle has a colourful six hundred year history, when it was built as a wedding gift for Princess Mary upon her marriage to Thomas Boyd. The castle is idyllically located with views over the quiet village of West Kilbride towards the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran. Law Castle is available to rent for up to 14 guests as one of Scotland's most luxurious and exclusive holiday homes. See more
Longtown, Cumbria, England
Sleeps 10 guests in 4 rooms (optional accommodation for a further 6 guests). Self-catered from £1320 for 3 nights.
Our Experts Say:
Full of history and romance, Brackenhill Tower, the only Scottish peel tower (fortified house) standing now on English soil, is situated in the heart of what was once "the debatable lands". Now just in England but practically right on the border with Scotland, the tower is just 6 miles from the romantic wedding capital of Scotland, Gretna Green. See more
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Sleeps 12 guests in 6 rooms. Self-catered from £3300 for 3 nights.
Our Experts Say:
This restored Norman castle is located just 7.4 miles from Haverfordwest, South Wales. Roch Castle was probably built in this location as one of the outer defences of the unmarked border, which has separated, for centuries, the English and Welsh areas of Pembrokeshire. See more
Ayrshire, Scotland
Blair Castle sleeps 34 guests in 17 rooms. Price on application.
Our Experts Say:
900-year-old Blair Castle is a 5-star, luxury exclusive-use venue, surrounded by 220 acres of ancient woodland, parkland and private gardens. Just 20 minutes from Glasgow Airport and Glasgow City, and only 70 minutes from Edinburgh, it is ideally situated for easy air, rail and road access. The castle and estate are available to hire on an exclusive-use basis for family gatherings, corporate events and celebrations. See more
Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Sleeps 20 guests in 12 rooms. From £10,000 per night (meals quoted separately).
Our Experts Say:
Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Candacraig is an inspiring, exclusive retreat. Steeped in history and surrounded by the wild beauty of the Cairngorms National Park, this breathtaking Baronial mansion is the perfect place to stay. The main house sleeps up to 24 guests. Guests enjoy exclusive use of Canadacraig, including the impressive formal Dining Room, Drawing Room, Games/Billiards Room, Whisky Library and outdoors, guests have full access to 18 acres of private woodland and lawns. See more
Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland
Sleeps 12 guests in 6 rooms. Price on application.
Our Experts Say:
Just like a storybook castle, this fantastic example of Robert Adam's genius stands dramatically on a cliff with superb views across the sea to the mountains of the Island of Arran. This superb Scottish castle is in the heart of Burns country, a central base for visiting the poet's haunts. See more
Loughrea, Co Galway, Ireland
Sleeps 14 guests in 7 rooms. From €9,000 for 2 nights (meals quoted separately).
Our Experts Say:
Accessed at the end of a long straight drive, this beautifully-restored castle stands proudly towering above tree-lined fields, offering guests panoramic countryside views. Spiral stone staircases, and wooden floorboards with touches of Medieval glamour highlight its Norman features and give it a cosy, rustic charm. See more
Selkirk, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Sleeps 10 guests in 5 rooms. Self-catered from £2210 for 3 nights.
Our Experts Say:
This exceptional 16th-century Scottish Castle has been lovingly renovated to accommodate up to ten overnight guests in authentic, relaxing and comfortable surroundings. Aikwood Tower is located just 40 miles south of Edinburgh. It is in the heart of the beautiful Ettrick Forest - the ancient hunting ground of Scottish royalty up to the days of Mary Queen of Scots. The stunning local landscape around Aikwood Tower offers some of the finest shooting and fishing in Scotland, among many other leisure activities. See more
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Sleeps 28 guests in 14 rooms. Self-catered price on application.
Our Experts Say:
This secluded Aberdeensire castle in landscaped parkland, 20 minutes from the airport, combines welcoming luxury with an air of prestige inside its crenellated towers. Abundant in beautifully-carved polished wood, opulent rugs and heavy drapes, it hosts large weddings in the stained-glass chapel and the light-filled, rustic Tenant’s Hall. See more
Portpatrick, Scotland
Dunskey Castle and Estate sleeps 66 guests in 34 rooms. Price on application.
Our Experts Say:
Private Scottish castle sleeping up to 44 guests, with accommodation for a further 20 guests in cottages throughout the 2000-acre estate. Dunskey Castle, an impeccably maintained Scottish castle in Dumfries and Galloway, with fine period furniture and Baronial features throughout, has now opened its doors to the public for the first time in history. See more
Kilfeacle, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Sleeps 7 guests in 4 rooms. Self-catered from €585 per night.
Our Experts Say:
The 500-year-old castle has been meticulously restored over two decades. The previous owners began the mammoth task in 2000, with the current owner, Cecil Farrar, acquiring Grantstown in late 2014 and spending the next 12 months finishing the job, before becoming the first person to sleep in a proper bed in Grantstown Castle for over 350 years. See more
