With Christmas and New Year behind us for another year, it’s time to start planning your summer breaks!

Below, we feature a selection of self catering castles scattered throughout each corner of the UK and Ireland, some luxurious, some rustic…and some a combination of the two! Although they’re sold on a self catered basis, in almost every instance catering can be brought in for one, several or even every night of your stay! Your own private castle for you, with family or friends, to enjoy throughout the duration of your time there! Weeks are selling fast for summer 2012 and, whilst the festive season may seem only just behind us, now is also the best time to start making plans for Christmas and New Year 2012/3!

Castle Law

Castle Law was purchased in 2002 by Davey and Kate Hutton, fulfilling Davey’s childhood dream of owning his own castle. They set about restoring the property from its run-down state into the warm, welcoming – yet very authentic – building seen today.

The castle sleeps up to 14 adults in 7 luxurious rooms, many with four poster beds (hand carved on site as they wouldn’t fit up the stone staircase!) as well as other unique features such as a stone bathtub. The Great Hall of the castle comes complete with a large dining table and seating area, at the centre of which is a large log fireplace. Many features from the past are still visible, such as the hole above the entrance where boiling water was poured onto attackers, or the trapdoor used to throw prisoners into the dungeon below.

Castle Law is located on the Ayshire Coast, 25 miles from Glasgow and 70 miles from Edinburgh. Hiring Castle Law starts at 2950 pounds per week; three night breaks are available from 2250 pounds.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/castle-law

Aikwood Tower

Aikwood Tower is located just 40 miles south of Edinburgh. Following an award winning restoration, Aikwood Tower was opened to the public in Spring 2011.

Inside, the Great Hall, with roaring fire and luxurious furnishings, creates a comfortable atmosphere for guests to relax. Meal times take place under the vaulted ceiling of the dining room and kitchen. There are four double bedrooms in the main tower, with the master bedroom the highlight, and a fifth in the extended wing. The floors are connected by a left turning spiral staircase.

Sleeping groups of up to 10 adults, this intimate property is available for 7 nights from 2250 pounds per week or 1750 pounds for a weekend. Midweek stays are available from 500 pounds per night.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/aikwood-tower

Fanningstown Castle

Fanningstown Castle is located in Adare on the west coast of Ireland.

The castle sleeps upto 10 people in 5 spacious and welcoming bedrooms, decorated in rich warm reds and mahogany. The bartizan on the castle tower creates a unique cupboard in one of the rooms and the bay windows of another overlook a mature weeping willow tree. The intimate yet elegant dining room seats 10 people, a fireplace is the perfect focal point in the sitting room and the distinctive character of the library makes the ideal place to relax after dinner.

The castle is located 40 minutes’ drive from Shannon Airport and is available from 2000 euros per week. 3 night breaks are available at low season from just 1000 euros.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/fanningstown

Carr Hall Castle

Carr Hall Castle is located in the north of England, within easy reach of Manchester and Leeds. It was purchased in 2002 by entrepreneurs Terry George and Michael Rothwell, who spent 4 years transforming the property into the luxurious home seen today.

The castle has a contemporary feel throughout and incorporates 5 luxury bedrooms, a large living room, a dining area and an indoor swimming pool. Carr Hall is at the centre of 12 acres of private deer park, with a private courtyard at the back of the castle, complete with a water wheel, barbecue area and small lake with a rowing boat.

Carr Hall Castle can be booked for 7 nights at a rate of 6995 pounds. Shorter stays are also available from 3495 pounds for 2 nights.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/carr-hall-castle

Walton Castle

Walton Castle is a self catering castle in the South West of England on the edge of the Bristol Channel.

The castle sleeps 16 people in total, housed in 8 en-suite bedrooms. The main four storey building sits at the centre of a surrounding octagonal wall. 5 of the bedrooms are located within the turrets of the wall, as is the castle’s dining room. The final turret is the castle’s utility room. The central section of the castle features 2 further bedrooms, the kitchen, the sitting room, the hall and an indoor swimming pool. On a sunny day, the roof terrace makes for a great area for pre-dinner drinks.

Week long stays are available from 7500 pounds; short stays start at 2800 pounds per night.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/walton-castle

Castle Lachlan

Castle Lachlan is the traditional home of the Maclachlan Clan.

Sitting on the banks of Loch Fyne, the current Castle Lachlan was built in the 18th century to replace the original property (the ruins of which are nearby) that was bombarded by English warships in 1746. The castle comfortably sleeps up to 13 people, with beds for an additional 2 available if required. Public areas of the castle include the drawing room, with it’s Italian marble fireplace and Steinway grand piano, the dining room with a table sleeping up to 14 adults and another large fireplace sitting at the centre, and the billiard room, complete with a full sized table. The area is rich in wildlife and walking, fishing, golf, sailing, cycling, shooting, pony trekking and driving can all be enjoyed locally.

A 7 night stay at Castle Lachlan can be enjoy from just 2250 pounds, with shorter stays also available from 1975 pounds for 3 nights.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/lachlan

Easterheughs Castle

Easterheughs Castle sleeps upto 12 adults and is located a mere 20 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh.

A stone staircase separates the floors of the castle, which include a dining room with a 14 foot antique table, kitchen, study, a large drawing room with seating and 5 bedrooms. At the top of the castle is a room terrace which offers panoramic views towards Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth.

The castle is hired for weekly lets and prices start at 2500 pounds for 7 nights.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/easterheughs-castle

Forter Castle

Forter Castle, in Glenisla, Perthsshire, was originally built in 1560 as a base to protect the Balloch Pass to Glenshee and the important Moneca Pass to Braemar and the North. By the time it was purchased by the Pooley Family in 1998, the castle was in ruins; it’s only residents the two trees which grew inside. Restoration began in 2003 and since then the castle has been transformed with a style that combines a traditional Scottish feel, antiques and art from travels abroad and modern luxurious comforts.

The castle can sleep 12 people comfortably, with 3 four poster bedrooms and a further 3 rooms that can be set up as either doubles or twins. The magnificent Great Hall spans the entire width of the castle with a dining table that seats up to 16 and a large log fireplace that is surrounded by a seating area.

7 night stays are available at Forter Castle from 4250 pounds; 3 nights start at 3250 pounds.

www.celticcastles.com/castles/forter-castle

Further options…

If the castles suggested here don’t quite fit what you are looking for, there are more options available on our website!

Take a look at the following locations…

Craigrownie Castle (sleeps up to 22 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/craigrownie-castle/

Muckrach Castle (sleeps up to 10 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/muckrach

Plane Castle (sleeps up to 16 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/planecastle

Tower of Hallbar (sleeps up to 7 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/towerofhallbar

Ballyportry Castle (sleeps up to 8 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/ballyportry-castle

Belle Isle Castle (sleeps up to 17 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/belleislecastle

Cloghan Castle (sleeps up to 14 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/cloghan-castle

Killahara Castle (sleeps up to 14 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/killahara

Lisheen Castle (sleeps up to 16 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/lisheen-castle

Lough Cutra Castle (sleeps up to 40 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/loughcutra

Turin Castle (sleeps up to 10 adults)
www.celticcastles.com/castles/turin-castle