Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands · Scotland
Aldourie Castle
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At a glance
Aldourie Castle is a baronial castle on the south shore of Loch Ness, outside Inverness. It is hired as a single exclusive-use property, so the whole building, its twelve bedrooms, and the 500-acre estate belong to your group for the length of the stay.
The interiors keep to the classical lines of a Scottish country house and take cues from contemporary Danish design. Seven self-catering cottages and bothies sit within the grounds and can be added for larger groups.
Highlights
- Exclusive use of the castle, with 12 bedrooms for up to 24 people.
- 500 acres of gardens, woodland, and wildflower meadows on the loch shore.
- A Boathouse carved in the shape of a boat’s hull and moored in the shallows of Loch Ness.
Accommodation
South Bothy and North Bothy
Two bothies · 2 people each
South Bothy sits at the end of the castle’s steadings. North Bothy is a separate bothy on the estate. Both are self-catering and restored with a minimalist touch, and each sleeps two.
Either can be hired alongside the castle.
Estate cottages
Five cottages · Sleeping 4 to 8 people each
Gatehouse Cottage is a miniature version of the castle, restored to sleep four.
Ivy Cottage is built in the style of a traditional croft and also sleeps four.
Factors Cottage, once the home of the estate’s factor, sleeps six, as does Garden Cottage.
Tigh na Coille is the largest, with space for eight.
All five are self-catering and can be hired with the castle to bring a larger group onto the estate.
Aldourie Castle
Twelve bedrooms · Up to 24 people
Seven of the bedrooms are on the first floor and five on the second. Each has its own name and its own design, from Lady Grey and Mackintosh on the first floor to Tower and Twin Chimneys above. All twelve are en suite. See all twelve rooms.
Between the bedrooms there is the Great Hall, a Drawing Room, a Conservatory, a Billiards Room, and the Laird’s Room. Daily housekeeping, a full staff, and concierge planning from the point of booking are part of the hire.
Gallery
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Further information
Dining
Chefs work from the castle’s walled garden, and much of what reaches the table is picked the same day. Menus follow the seasons and draw on local suppliers and foraged ingredients.
Formal dinners are served in the Dining Room. Lunches move to the Boathouse, afternoon tea is served in the Drawing Room, and breakfast is in the Laird’s Room. Groups marking an occasion can ask for a private chef evening, at the long dining table or outdoors among the trees.
The castle’s cellars hold a wine collection that changes over time, and the Steadings include a whisky tasting room.
Wellness and Spa
The Steadings house a wellness space that is open to castle groups. Down by the water, the Sauna Yurt sits among the trees and is used after a swim in the loch.
Experiences
On the estate, whisky tastings run in the castle’s wood-paneled rooms. 4×4 drives cover the quiet tracks, and swimming in Loch Ness is a short walk from the house.
Further out, the castle’s team can arrange foraging with a local guide, river fishing, visits to artisan makers, and trips to Urquhart Castle and Cawdor Castle.
Weddings are hosted at Aldourie. The castle and Steadings suit smaller ceremonies, and larger ones need a marquee. Out of Office can plan the full stay around the date.
Scotland
Scotland’s climate and light shift dramatically by season, and that shapes a trip more than in most destinations. Summer brings close to eighteen hours of daylight in the Highlands, while winter days can be as short as seven, which changes not just what is comfortable to do but what is possible in a single day.
Our Experts
I'm Scottish so am very fond of this country. Windswept Highlands landscapes, stunning lochs, mountains and glens... it's a paradise for those who love dramatic scenery.
The cities of Scotland have an energy that isn't seen anywhere else on earth. Welcoming, vibrant, and with that famous Scottish sense of humor. Edinburgh is a must-see for those visiting this beautiful country.
Wolf helped us craft our Oxford and Scotland trip, from castles and lochs to an Edinburgh walking tour.
Bulbul G.
Millicent planned our trip to Scotland and Ireland so well, we knew she'd be our go-to agent again.
Diane
We enjoyed working with him so much, we used him again for Scotland and Ireland with my parents.
AJ S.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
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