The Castle Magazine

April

Spring Castle Breaks

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 4:53 pm

Corsewall Lighthouse

Corsewell Lighthouse Hotel in South-West Scotland (close to Stranraer) invests the charm and romance of an 1815, functional lighthouse with the comforts of a small, very unique luxury hotel and restaurant.

The lighthouse is a listed ‘A’ building of major national importance. Its light still beams a warning for ships approaching the mouth of Loch Ryan, as it has done for 185 years.

Book a 2 night stay at Corsewall Lighthouse this May and you will receive a third night stay free of charge!

As an example, 2 people in the Firth of Cromarty Room at the weekend, Friday and Saturday, would pay £540 and Thursday or Sunday would be free. As always, the price includes a 5 course dinner and full Scottish champagne breakfast each day.

www.celticcastles.com/unique/corsewall-lighthouse

Fenton Tower

Fenton Tower is a fortified 16th century tower, restored from a ruin to create a luxury 5 star property. The tower, which sits 20 miles east of Edinburgh, can be booked exclusively for between 6 and 12 adults.

As well as being within easy reach of Edinburgh City Centre, Fenton Tower is in a superb location to enjoy some of the finest golf courses Scotland (and therefore the world!) has to offer. There are over 100 courses within 30 miles of the tower and 15 within 10 miles. The world famous St. Andrews course is only 22 miles away.

For stays during April 2011, we are able to offer 10% off all exclusive hire bookings at Fenton Tower. For a minmum exclusive hire booking of 6 people, this represents a saving of over 100 pounds per day.

Key dates for 2011:
Kids Golf Championship, Gullane Golf Club – 31st May – 2nd June – B&B availability only
Royal Highland Show – 23rd – 26th June
Ladies Day – Musselburgh Racecourse – Friday 17th June
Ladies Scottish Open Golf Championship – 18th – 20th August

Remember!
Fenton Tower is now also available for bed and breakfast bookings:

www.celticcastles.com/castles/fenton

Château de la Barre

Comte & Comtesse de Vanssay (she Anglo-American, he 20th generation at his family château), welcome you to their home, Château de La Barre, less than 2 hours from Paris. Hidden amidst a private park with romantic gardens and XVIth century fortifications, Château de La Barre has been in the family for 600 years.

All the rooms, replete with magnificent antiques, family portraits and designer fabrics, combine elegance, authenticity, understated refinement with all the important modern comforts.

Château de la Barre has a special May Bank Holiday package (in the UK, the weekend of the Royal Wedding).

Upon Arrival:

Champagne welcome and tea in the elegant ‘salon rose’ or in front of the monumental XIVth century fireplace
A private visit of the château

Sunday Saturday 30th April:

Elegant Grand Siècle dinner in the XVIIth century grand dining room with all the family silver and crystal

Possible activities during your stay:

From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance: explore picturesque villages, Romanesque chapels, the Medieval Plantagenet city of Le Mans, stage set to numerous films, enjoy a Renaissance lunch at Leonardo da Vinci’s home, and finally visit the famous Chenonceau Castle with its unique spring floral arrangements
Discover wineries and some hidden gourmet addresses…and much more

Price: 495 to 595 euros per person (depending upon room chosen)

Includes:

3 nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast
Champagne welcome and visit of the château
Flowers from the garden and portwine in each room
Sunday Grand Siècle dinner at Château de La Barre, fine wines and champagne included
Assistance with all visits, maps, travel arrangements, rental car and airport transfers if needed
Complementary 4th night

www.celticcastles.com/chateaux/chateau-de-la-barre

Augill Castle

Augill Castle, in the Upper Eden Valley (North-West England), stands in open country, with a backdrop of the North Pennines with gardens opening out to views of the nearby Yorkshire Dales and the Lakeland Fells beyond.

Owners, Wendy and Simon, together with their young family, do all they can to ensure their guests leave feeling that they have stayed with friends.

Not here a formal reception desk to greet you, but rather a collection of comfy leather chairs around a roaring fire and a friendly Labrador. The castle provides the chance for guests to step out of reality and into a more relaxed place altogether.

Royal Wedding Garden Party Long Weekend – Thursday-Saturday 28-30 April

Where better to celebrate the Royal Wedding than an English castle? Arrive on Thursday afternoon and make the most of the castle and its grounds. There’ll be children’s high tea followed by a royally themed film and red, white and blue popcorn, jelly and ice cream, while parents relax over a four course dinner. The next day there’ll be a hearty breakfast followed by the Royal Wedding on a big screen. Later in the afternoon there’ll be a traditional garden party celebration with cucumber, smoked salmon and egg & cress sandwiches, cakes, scones, jam & cream, lashings of Pimms, lots of flags and bunting. In the evening there’ll be a buffet dinner followed by live music and dancing. Break £725 per family (2 adults & 2 children). Additional children £80. Additional nights from £240 per family B&B.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/augillcastle/

Dalhousie Castle

Dalhousie Castle luxury hotel near Edinburgh in Scotland has very much kept its Scottish castle character with features such as falconry in the castle grounds, hydrotherapy spa with beauty treatments, luxury characterful bedrooms and a formal fine dining restaurant, yet just half an hour from Edinburgh city centre, Edinburgh airport and Waverley train station. Is there a more memorable way of visiting Scotland than by staying in a luxury Scottish castle hotel?

Prior to the 30 April 2011, if you make a reservation more than 3 nights before your intended arrival date at Dalhousie Castle and pay the full accommodation cost upon booking, you will receive a 20% discount on the accommodation charge.

This special break is available if you make a booking between 17 March 2011 and 30 April 2011. Subject to availability.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/dalhousie

Ballynagowan Castle

Ballynagowan Castle is a wonderful restored castle set in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. Great for families, this castle can be hired exclusively for your group on a self catering basis.

Both May Bank Holiday weeks are still free (April 29 -May 7, and May 27 – June 4), at a great price of only €1250 per week. Short stays are also possible, please contact us for rates. Further availability mid May (through to 20th).

Things to see and do:
April 28 – May 2 is the Kilfenora Music Festival, celebrating the famous Kilfenora Ceili Band
Mid May (13-15) is the Inaugural Father Ted Festival with lots of events; the series was filmed in the area (the Parochial House belongs to friends of the owners).
May 21 is the famous Clare Burren Marathon Challenge, people from all over the world come to join this unique race, and some call it the best Marathon in the world!
May 22 – 25 is the Great Irish Links Challenge, three of the world’s finest golf courses, Doonbeg, Ballybunion and Lahinch joining to offer this monumental 4 day championship event.

May is the sunniest month in Ireland, and these are just some of the activities going on in the area.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/ballynagowan-castle

Swinton Park

With 4 Red Stars (Inspector’s Choice) and 3 Rosettes awarded by the AA for excellent facilities, high levels of service and quality of cuisine, this is one of the highest rated hotels in Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Each of the 30 spacious bedrooms is individually designed, with a choice of views across the gardens, lake, parkland or gatehouse.

With Easter, The Royal Wedding and May Day so close to each other this year, make the most of the holidays and enjoy a three night package. If you book two nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast between 18th April-1st May, you can enjoy a third night’s dinner, bed & breakfast at HALF PRICE!

www.celticcastles.com/castles/swintonpark

Ackergill Tower

Ackergill Tower is one of the most sought after retreats in the world. Purposely low profile and totally private, this stunning 15th century Scottish castle is truly an idyllic backdrop for all of the most important and memorable of life’s events.

May Day provides a great excuse to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of an open house in a 15th century castle on the very edge of the sea. From the moment you arrive in the Gun Hall, you will realise that this party is to celebrate Spring. A wee dram is always taken in the Gun Hall, the visitor’s book signed as luggage is whisked to rooms. Ackergill’s household ladies escort you to your room and you will learn a little of the history of the castle as you go.

The gardens will be showing some good colour, the lawn mowers are busy. Celebrations in the Opera House, dance around the May Pole if you like and the Ackergill Highland Challenge will take on a spring feel; Lisa and Helen will make sure of that!

The Tree House could beckon and ‘cheffie’ will be ready to satisfy your taste buds; cosy suppers, courtyard barbeques and a grand dinner for you to enjoy.

Head out in wellies and Barbours to explore the beach, shoot some clays up in the Walled Garden with Hamish, or cast your fly with Steve keeping a watch. Visits to Sinclair Girnigoe Castles or the Castle of Mey (The Queen Mother’s Home in Caithness). Plenty to do, plenty to try. A wee Sloe Gin on your return to the castle, the cosy fire in the Morning Room. Then the night full of ceremony and traditions.

What better way to embrace life in an amazing castle in Scotland?

Dates:
Friday 29th April ’11 to Monday 2nd May ’11

Open House Party Tariff:

The inclusive price for the best part of four days and three nights arriving Friday for lunch and departing after breakfast on Monday is:

£895 per person

£250 for single supplement, if booking a double bedroom

All prices include: