Winton Castle
9.6 nr Edinburgh, Scotland
Exclusive Use
You can have the venue to yourself, sleeps 20 guests in 10 rooms. Optional accommodation for a further 34 guests
Tucked into the heart of East Lothian’s sweeping countryside, Winton Castle is over 500 years old and set amidst ancient woodland, parkland walks, and the serene beauty of rural Scotland. It is just a short drive from Edinburgh and its international airport, as well as from picturesque landscapes, adventurous outdoor pursuits, and some of the country’s finest historic sites and attractions.
Winton Castle’s remarkable history is intertwined with illustrious sovereigns and storied figures across the centuries, from Henry VIII to Mary Queen of Scots to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Redesigned to entertain royalty during the Scottish Renaissance, the castle has been carefully shaped over half a millennium to combine grandeur with a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Regal History, Relaxed Ambience
Winton Castle offers a minimum two-night, exclusive-use stay for up to 20 guests. Known for hosting intimacy on a grand scale, it exudes a family-friendly atmosphere, with roaring fireplaces and a warm Scottish welcome that will envelop you and your party throughout your stay.
Constructed for the 3rd Earl of Winton, the majestically elegant castle is today a private retreat where families and friends can gather in grand yet inviting surroundings, making each stay or celebration truly special. Winton Castle is also an ideal base for groups of golfers seeking luxury accommodation along ‘Scotland’s Golf Coast’.
The Castle
Rooms and Interiors
The public rooms at Winton Castle are imbued with grace and grandeur, offering a series of beautifully composed settings in which to gather, relax, and entertain. The reception rooms reflect the castle’s layered history while remaining warm and inviting.
The striking and generously proportioned spaces are adorned in a rich palette of heritage colours. Be drawn to the magnificent plaster-work ceilings, walls of ancient books, opulent fabrics, and the family coat of arms carved in stone. Grand fireplaces, huge decorative rugs under clusters of characterful cosy seating encourage moments of comfort and conversation.
The Dining Room continues this sense of warmth and occasion, its joyous pink walls framing a long table designed to bring everyone together for shared meals, celebration, and conviviality.
Dining - Formal and Informal
At Winton Castle, dining is entirely shaped by your party’s preferences – from relaxed BBQs on the lawn to sharing platters of charcuterie, British cheeses, and local seafood; from alfresco meals to home-style menus to lavish banquets.
Guests may enjoy a full Scottish breakfast each morning, or a leisurely brunch after a morning exploring the estate.
Winton Castle’s creative panel of chefs will liaise with you to curate menus using the finest Scottish produce. Organic farming at Winton Estate provides the castle’s own beef and lamb, alongside locally and ethically sourced wild seafood, artisan breads, and cheeses. Dishes can be paired with wines or Champagne from the castle cellar. Celebratory stays can be crowned with tasting menus, wine flights, music, pipers, and dancing.
Dining can take place in the Octagon, Cabinet Room, formal Dining Room, or outdoors in the walled garden or lower terrace. Private chef and butler services are available for an additional fee.
Castle Accommodation
Winton Castle welcomes up to twenry guests across ten bedrooms, six of which are ensuite and the others have a private or shared bathroom. Rooms are colourful, spacious, well appointed and beautifully presented.
The Belhaven Landing (1st floor) boasts rooms of heritage shades, grand beds and high, ornate ceilings.
Belhaven - Shared bathroom / four-poster double bed, ideal for a family
Seton - Shared bathroom, double
Elgin - Shared bathroom, double or twin
Nisbet - Double or twin with private adjacent bathroom
Hamilton - Four-poster bed featuring a roll-top bath with double shower and sinks
The Kinnaird Landing (2nd floor) brings blues and whites together in spacious rooms:
Dundas - Ensuite double
Kinnaird - Ensuite double or twin
Clive - Ensuite double
In the eves of the castle, The Wallace Landing (3rd floor) rooms feature fresh colours, ample light and wood panelled walls:
Wallace - Ensuite double or twin
Paterson - Ensuite double or twin
Additional Accommodation
Winton Estate features three exquisite self-catering farmhouses, ideal for family or group retreats. Together with the castle, Winton Estate can host up to 54 guests:
Broomrigg Farmhouse - 4 bedrooms, 8 guests, with a hot tub
Winton Cottage - 5 bedrooms, 10-12 guests
Wintonhill Farmhouse - 6 bedrooms, 12-14 guests
Each property features stylish bedrooms, luxurious bathrooms, and spacious living and dining areas, with private gardens and outdoor spaces designed for relaxation and entertaining.
Activities / Leisure
Set within some of Scotland’s finest farmland, Winton Castle is perfectly placed to enjoy the rolling landscapes of East Lothian. The estate offers a range of pre-bookable outdoor country pursuits and castle activities.
Gardens / Estate
Winton’s meticulously maintained estate is a changing tapestry of manicured lawns, walled gardens, elegantly carved pathways, seating areas, and scenic woodland walks.
History
Winton Castle was built by the Setons following a grant of land by David I to Phillip de Sayton in 1150. Phillip’s grandson married the sister of King Robert ‘The Bruce’ of Scotland. In the sixteenth century, Henry VIII had Winton burnt in an effort to impress Mary Queen of Scots, and Mary Seton was later her Lady-in-Waiting.
Prices
Your stay at Winton Castle includes:
- Exclusive use of the castle’s reception rooms;
- 10 bedrooms sleeping 20 guests;
- A full Scottish breakfast every morning or brunch;
- Dedicated staff throughout your stay;
- Unlimited tea, coffee and soft drink refreshments;
- Fresh flowers from the gardens;
- Tour of the castle;
- You and your guests will enjoy the privacy and exclusive use of the castle’s reception rooms, bedrooms and mature gardens.
Minimum two-night stay - From £5,900 per night. (Breakfast included, all other meals at an additional cost). Prices include VAT at the current rate.
When staying on this rural estate, why not enjoy exciting estate activities: clay-pigeon shooting; mini-highland games; archery; interactive falconry displays; whisky-tasting; 4x4 driving; and lots more! Please note all activities need to be pre-booked.
Location
Situated 30 minutes from the city of Edinburgh and 45 minutes from its international airport, Winton Castle occupies a stunning countryside setting in East Lothian. The estate is conveniently close to the A1, the City Bypass and Scotland’s motorway network.
The estate is itself a fabulous space to explore and experience and, should you wish to venture further afield, it is within close travel to picturesque sandy beaches, historic sites, cultural attractions and many famous golf links.
Reviews
9.6
From a planning perspective, this was probably the least stressful event we’ve organised. You and your teams were so friendly and accommodating, and nothing seemed too difficult. It’s such a beautiful venue and you really made the day memorable.
A line to say how much we enjoyed our day at Winton last week. Feedback from delegates mentioned that this was the best leaders awayday yet. The setting clearly inspires people and I have no doubt that this will be a location that we will use in future. My thanks to your amazing team – nothing was too much trouble for them.
The dinner and overnight stay was used as a means for participants to get to know each other better in relaxed surroundings. The venue is easily accessed and the quality of hospitality has always been fantastic, with guests made to feel extremely welcome and the catering never disappointing. The castle’s ambience is very relaxed, with all the members of staff and family members being very hospitable and welcoming. In planning the event, Julie was, as always, extremely helpful as the point of contact.
I just wanted to send an email to say, on behalf of Parity, a huge thank you to yourself, and to the Winton team for hosting us for our event this year. Our employees were blown away by the venue, as I’m sure you saw from all the selfies they were taking around the castle. The Piper welcoming off the coach was a lovely touch. “The courses (and address to haggis) were delicious, thank you to the chef and kitchen. The murder mystery was brilliant and a great addition to the night- the actors were fantastic and I know some of our staff really put them under pressure with their interrogations! The wait and bar staff were also fantastic, and by the looks of things, they seemed to be enjoying themselves too which was lovely to see- I know some of our staff provided some entertainment! My CFO also noted that even at the end of the night, you were looking after us, by making sure the last of the coats made it onto the bus and not forgotten. So thank you for everything, it was the perfect evening to end our ‘away day’. If we didn’t like to do something different every year, I’m sure we would have no hesitation returning to Winton in the future.
We recently hosted a corporate gala dinner at Winton Castle and were absolutely delighted with the experience. From the moment we arrived, the staff made our guests feel welcome - everyone was warm, smiling, and genuinely attentive. The service throughout the evening was prompt without ever feeling rushed, and every detail seemed to be handled seamlessly in the background. The food was another highlight: beautifully presented, full of flavour, and served piping hot to a large group. It’s clear the team takes real pride in what they do. The setting itself is stunning, but what stood out most was how well the staff looked after our guests. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Winton Castle for any high-profile or special occasion.