Dalhousie Castle
8.5 Bonnyrigg, near Edinburgh, Scotland
Overnight Accommodation
Sleeps 57 guests in 29 rooms. Optional accommodation for a further 12 guests
Situated on a secluded woodland estate, this ancient, fairy-tale castle comes complete with towers, turrets and a moat and is conveniently located just eight miles from Edinburgh. The magnificent 13th-century Dalhousie Castle, situated beside the River Esk, has seen love stories, triumph and tragedy galore and is renowned for having the longest family heritage of any castle in Scotland.
Dalhousie is ideal if your wedding guests are travelling from far and wide. The nearest train station is only a five-minute drive and Edinburgh Airport is just 16 miles away.
Wedding spaces
From storytelling tapestries to ornate gold-leaf ceilings, the varied collection of public rooms in Dalhousie will create a stunning backdrop to weddings for up to 85 guests.
The Chapel
An elegant, peaceful setting for your ceremony and ideal for a smaller wedding breakfast, The Chapel is a charming and authentic backdrop situated on the ground floor of the castle. Light spills in through striking stained-glass windows, whilst Medieval chandeliers highlight the vaulted ceiling. The arch-topped French doors create a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors, leading to a terrace boasting remarkable parkland and river views; simply idyllic on a sunny day.
The Ramsay Suite
With its vaulted windows, hanging chandeliers and antique fireplaces, the regal Ramsay Suite creates a dramatic canvas for your wedding reception. It is the largest of the castle’s rooms with a truly romantic ambience.
Sir Alexander Suite
Brimming with Scottish charm and boasting views across the castle’s estate, The Sir Alexander Suite is incredibly versatile. It features its own bar and dance floor, making it the natural choice for arrival drinks and your evening reception. The space is perfect to showcase a classic wedding dance and, later, host a live band or traditional Scottish ceilidh.
The Dalwolsey Lounge
The atmosphere in this room is most definitely rich and luxurious, accentuated by its deep red walls and décor. Snug yet stately, it features a statement fireplace and a striking ornate plasterwork ceiling. The Dalwolsey Lounge offers ample space for an intimate wedding breakfast and reception.
The Dungeon Gateside
Banquet 18 guests. Complete with exposed stone walls and suits of armour, softened by flickering candlelight, Gateside provides an atmospheric and romantic backdrop to your intimate wedding breakfast. The private dining space, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and windows in deep-set arches, is located within the Dungeon Restaurant in the original castle vaults.
Your ceremony
Dalhousie is licensed to hold civil ceremonies and partnerships anywhere in the castle and its grounds. With the help of a dedicated events team, the rooms and spaces allow you to design your perfect wedding ceremony. To make it truly unique, you could arrange for the castle pipe sergeant to warmly welcome your guests with the stately sound of bagpipes or allow one of the castle’s owls to deliver your wedding rings down the aisle.
Your wedding breakfast
The award-winning food with 2-AA rosettes will both delight and impress your guests. From exquisite afternoon tea to full fairy-tale banquets, decide on the format that best suits you. The castle’s acclaimed chefs will create a mouth-watering bespoke menu using the best seasonal Scottish produce the local area has to offer, with each dish being thoughtfully produced and served with a stylish flair.
Wedding accommodation
Dalhousie Castle’s individually-styled bedrooms are spacious, adorned in luxurious fabrics and feature beautifully-crafted period furnishings which emphasise the castle’s dramatic history. Newlyweds receive the bridal suite with compliments of the castle; a generous touch.
The varied room types are well-appointed with a bespoke style and an inviting feel. Superior Rooms have a unique character and historic theme connecting guests to the 700-year Ramsay family history. The four-poster bedrooms have been designed with regal splendour and offer the very best in castle quarters. The Castle Suites are exquisitely styled and boast separate living and sleeping areas.
There is additional guest accommodation on the Dalhousie Estate just a short walk from the castle itself. The Castle Lodge is a refurbished collection of six plush, oversized bedrooms and suites offering a contemporary feel. You can book up to 25 bedrooms on the day of your wedding. If you wish to reserve all 35 bedrooms across the estate, then an exclusive-use booking of the castle is required.
The Spa
Dalhousie Castle’s all-encompassing hydro Aqueous Spa is available for your party alone if you take exclusive use of the castle for your wedding. Share your pre-wedding excitement with close friends, sipping Champagne over peaceful countryside views and calming any nerves with a tranquil swim or relaxing facial.
Prices
Dalhousie Castle offers a romantic and historic setting for your wedding, with packages that can be tailored to your specific requirements. Bespoke options are also available.
As a Guide:
- Elopement Package – from £3,900 based on the wedding couple.
- Small Weddings for 20 guests – from £5,675.
For weddings with 20 + guests, bespoke pricing is available – enquire to create a package tailored to your requirements. Your final price will depend on your chosen date, guest numbers, and any extra features you would like to include.
Get in touch and we’ll help you create a celebration that’s unique to you!
Packages
- 2-night package from £3,900
- Optionally invite up to 18 additional guests
- 2-night package from £5,675 (based on 21 people)
- Suitable for 21 to 40 guests
Location
Dalhousie Castle is located just eight miles from the centre of Scotland’s capital, with its cosmopolitan mix of shops, dining and drinking scene, impressive historic monuments and family attractions. Edinburgh is, of course, home to a thriving cultural, arts and entertainment scene.
The nearest train station is only a five-minute drive away from Dalhousie Castle, with trains into the city centre expected every 30 minutes and a journey time of 22 minutes. Dalhousie is 16 miles from Edinburgh Airport.
Reviews
8.5
This castle was amazing with such friendly staff and some historic remnants of the past. Whether peeking through a small, wooden door to discover a spiral staircase descending into the dark, admiring the medieval weaponry and armor in the dungeon, or strolling along the grounds to explore a small ruin and discover two ancient bridges, this location was a dream. They offer spa treatments and falconry, amazing landscapes and delicious food. All in all, I'm so happy we stayed at Dalhousie Castle and highly recommend it if you plan to visit Scotland.
Gorgeous suite, good food and helpful staff. We thorough enjoyed our stay.
This place is immaculate. Everyone is welcoming, but be patient when the castle is busy handling many guests at once. The staff seemed a little overwhelmed. The spa was nice, but during our visit, they were having issues with the aqua spa. They couldn't get the temperature on it up.
This castle stay was peaceful and quiet. The food was INCREDIBLE. We stayed here for the last leg of a two week trip through Europe, and it was by far the best food. However, the check-in system and the transparency of the costs we accrued were lackluster. When we checked in, we didn’t get any information about what was available to us, such as the spa. We didn’t understand what we had paid for in terms of the breakfast and dinner packages. We kept signing things for each meal that put us under the impression that we were spending hundreds of dollars for most meals, but then later many of the costs dropped off, but we never had itemized receipts. The castle grounds were beautiful! The newly upgraded bar had a nice vibe. But our group kept talking about how much potential the castle had. They need to bring in some live music, have some evening events for guests, and maybe an outdoor fire pit or two. This castle is fairly isolated, and its main attraction is the food, but it could be more like a cruise ship with some built in activities, since you are so isolated from town. We even looked for a deck of cards so that we could occupy our time, and those were not available. This could be a five star experience with a few tweaks. Again, best food of the trip, but not much else to do but eat and walk around.
The castle and grounds were beautiful. The falconry experience was amazing!