Kilmartin Castle.

The Castle.

Kilmartin Castle is an artfully restored castle on the verdant, prehistoric coast of western Scotland. Fortified stone walls, flagstone floors, and spiral staircases evoke a bygone era, yet a wealth of modern luxuries place this home firmly in the 21st Century. Five stylish bedrooms sleep 10 guests comfortably, with luxury rain showers, underfloor heating, roll-top copper baths, crisp linens and robes. Outside, sprawling grounds are homestay perfection, offering a large manicured lawn; glasshouse dining room and outdoor kitchen with BBQ and fire pit; and an idyllic natural swimming pool, set against the rugged highland backdrop of Kilmartin Glen.

Living, Cooking, Dining.

In the heart of the castle is the convivial grand hall. Its gigantic original stone fireplace and wood-burning stove provide a striking centrepiece, surrounded by the cosiest lounge area. Entertainment includes boardgames and a pull-down cinema screen and the adjoining snug, with space for only a single armchair, provides the ideal spot to steal a moment with a book. Throughout the hall, cosy window seats provide views over the garden and works of art offer a playful take on what it is to rule your own Renaissance castle in 21st Century luxury.

On the ground floor, a charming and impeccably appointed kitchen is worthy of the highest culinary ambitions. Facilities include two Bosch ovens, an American style double fridge, and designer appliances. The castle’s organic kitchen garden is your living welcome hamper, harvest a bursting bounty of seasonal herbs, fruits and vegetables during your stay, with a zero-air-miles guarantee. A cavernous dining room is every bit the stage for a feast, with a barrel-vaulted stone ceiling, chandelier and solid wood dining table seating ten guests. We recommend booking one of the highly rated private chefs to truly elevate your dining experience.

Sleeping Quarters.

Five lavishly decorated and spacious bedrooms feature statement antiques, crisp 400 thread count Egyptian cotton linens, and luxury en-suite bathrooms. Each chamber is meticulously designed to deliver sleep worthy of royalty.

Bedroom 1. Located on the second floor, ‘Speel’ offers a king-size antique bed, luxury copper bath, and entire castle turret shower room. Exposed original stonework and lime painted plaster create a period aesthetic, bathed in natural light from multiple aspect windows.

Bedroom 2. ‘Clarke’ has a double bed with a headboard in bespoke Harris Tweed. A mighty flagstone fireplace features decorative logs and there is a terracotta-tiled wetroom hidden behind a pheasant-print feature wall by renowned artist Klaus Haapaniemi.

Bedroom 3. ‘1550’ features a king-size four poster bed and windows with breathtaking views over the glen. The room has an antique roll-top bath, handsome woodburner, and a walk-in rain shower housed within the castle turret.

Bedroom 4. ‘Carswell’ has a king-size four poster bed with a stunning wood headboard. A copper bath fits snugly in an alcove and there is a walk-in rain shower in the ensuite, with a separate WC.

Bedroom 5. ‘The Snug’ has a double bed with a handcrafted oak headboard beneath the castle’s original barrel-vaulted stone ceiling. The room includes an armchair, underfloor heating, and en-suite bathroom.

The Garden.

Designed by the Chelsea Flower Show award-winning Amber Crowley, the castle grounds feature landscaped gardens, luxury facilities, and sweeping highland vistas. A state-of-the-art open-air kitchen is fit for a gourmet chef, with a DeliVita pizza oven, Kamado Joe, Weber BBQ and hot water sink. Feast in the enchanting heated glasshouse, with a long wooden table for up to 20 guests. Beside this, Italian outdoor lounge furniture and a stylish chiminea invite long evenings sharing drinks and stories under the stars. Perhaps the main attraction is the thermally insulated reed-filtered natural swimming pool, perfect for a cold plunge and reconnecting with the wild. Throughout the grounds, a modest collection of sculptures provide a contemporary counterpoint to the neolithic standing stones of the glen. This is a garden to pamper, ponder and get lost in.

Locally.

Kilmartin Castle sits at the edge of the small village of Kilmartin. By foot, guests can dine at the fantastic and tiny Kilmartin Hotel or delve into the newly renovated and award-winning Kilmartin Museum, exhibiting 12,000 years of local artefacts and hosting workshops on ancestral arts and crafts. A local church graveyard features sculptured stones dating back to 1600 AD, and Carnasserie Castle, built at a similar time to Kilmartin Castle, is open to visitors as an abandoned ruin. Kilmartin Glen has the highest concentration of archeological sites in mainland Scotland, comprising standing stones, hill forts, stone circles, and prehistoric rock art carvings. Many of these sites are walkable from Kilmartin Castle and free guided tours are available from the museum. Excursions into the wider region include bike rides along the Crinan Canal, ocean voyages on a beautifully restored antique wooden fishing boat, and visits to the boutiques and eateries of the surrounding area.

Sustainably.

Kilmartin Castle champions numerous sustainability practices. Deep ties with local guides, chefs and businesses provide meaningful and enduring value to the region. These partnerships help to deliver premium, ethically-sourced produce, including locally roasted coffee and meat from farmers upholding high animal welfare standards. Visitors will enjoy brands that are cruelty-free, environmentally friendly or socially positive, such as, ‘Faith in Nature’ and ‘Who Gives a Crap’. Outside, the organic vegetable garden provides seasonal produce with zero transport requirements, all fertilised with compost from kitchen food waste. A natural pool not only supports chemical free swimming but dramatically boosts the biodiversity of the garden. Other ecosystem supporting measures include dry stone garden walls, tall grasses, and nectar-giving wildflowers. Finally, the castle is powered by 100% green electricity from renewable sources.

Historically.

Kilmartin Castle was built in 1550 during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. Its first inhabitant was John Carswell, a 7ft tall man who might have found himself drafted into a 16th Century NBA league had it only existed. Instead, he served as the local church Rector, playing a vital role in asserting Christian rule over the Western Isles. Following his promotion to Bishophood in 1565, Carswell moved to the larger Carnasserie Castle. This began the 200 year stewardship of Kilmartin Castle by the Campbell Clan, before it fell into relative ruin in the 1790s. When Tom and Olive Clarke bought the castle in the 1990s, a period of much-needed restoration began. The current owners Simon and Stef have since taken on this baton, lovingly and painstakingly renovating the castle and placing it firmly on the map as one of the most loved and celebrated castle getaways available.