18 real castles you can actually sleep in, verified one by one — turrets, tower houses and centuries of stone, all bookable through IMPT.
A 19th-century Scottish baronial mansion built in 1863 by William Scarlett, 3rd Baron Abinger, standing near (but distinct from) the ruined 13th-century Inverlochy Castle after which it is named. Queen Victoria stayed here in 1873.
A Scottish baronial castle built in the 1870s as the family seat of the Earl of Inchcape, opened as a luxury hotel in 2000.
A castle dating to the 13th century (main keep c.1450), seat of the Ramsay family for around 800 years until 1977, converted into a hotel in 1972.
One of Scotland's oldest hotels, with the main building dating from the 13th century; ancestral seat of Clan Galbraith for over 700 years.
A Scottish baronial castle built in 1837 as the family home of the Campbells, now a hotel of the Bespoke Hotels group.
Built in the 15th century opposite Dornoch Cathedral as the Bishop's Palace, later a school, gaol and courthouse before becoming a hotel in 1947.
Built in 1892 for Lieutenant Colonel George Glas Sandeman of the Sandeman port family; served as a WWI Red Cross hospital before being restored as a luxury hotel in 2002.
A 15th-century tower house built by the Lindsays of Dunrod, later owned by inventor Charles Macintosh; restored from near-dereliction and reopened as a 5-star hotel in 2016, with a new 40-bedroom extension added in 2025.
Built in 1609 by "Black" Duncan Campbell, restored in 1897 by Sir Duncan Campbell, 3rd Baronet; known locally as the Black Castle of Benderloch.
A 15th-century tower house (licence to build c.1500-01) built by the Murrays of Cockpool, extended with a baronial mansion completed around 1900; bought by the present owners in 1984 and run as a hotel.
A Highland estate castle near Inverness that operated for years as an exclusive-use wedding venue before opening in 2021 to individual and small-group guests as a B&B.
A castle dating from the 12th century, held by the Bain family and later Clan Davidson; extended in 1891 and 1920-23, used as a WWII hospital and later a school, before becoming a hotel in 1996.
An altered 16th-century L-plan tower house first recorded in 1353 under the Earls of Fife, later owned by the Fernie, Arnot and Balfour families, now a hotel.
A Scottish Victorian castle built in 1860 on the north coast of Mull, now run by the resident family as a luxury bed and breakfast.
A 19th-century country house (built 1840s in Egyptian Revival-influenced style by General Johnstone, later linked to the Younger brewing family) on the site of an earlier medieval castle in the Moffat hills; opened as a hotel in the 1950s and now operates as both a hotel and wedding venue.
A castellated Gothic mansion designed by James Playfair, built for the 1st Viscount Melville from 1786-91 on the site of an earlier tower, hosting George IV, Sir Walter Scott and Queen Victoria; restored and reopened as a hotel in 2003, refurbished again under Original Collection in 2021.
A tall 15th-century castle (c.1420) built by Sir James Borthwick, famous as the refuge of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Earl of Bothwell in 1567 before their siege and escape; restored 1890-1914 and operating as a hotel since 1973.
An imposing 16th-century castle in the Scottish Borders, evolved over time into a large country hotel and conference/wedding venue.
Doing good is the business. Every castle stay booked through Ireland Castle Hotels funds one verified tonne of carbon removal, same room, same price.
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