A whisky in the library, sleeping in a four-poster bed, breakfast with a view of the Atlantic – at Glengorm Castle, guests truly feel like royalty. And it doesn’t even cost that much …
Right from arrival, a warm fire crackling in the large entrance hall greets you and puts you in just the right mood.
NOTE: Since 2023, the castle no longer offers Bed & Breakfast, only self-catering apartments. This may change again in future. Here’s the owners’ own post explaining the change.
A grand old staircase leads guests up to the bedrooms.
You feel right at home in the rooms straight away – depending on which one you get, some even come with a four-poster bed.
Every area is furnished in period style with antique furniture and flowing fabrics; the library is panelled in oak, and here too a cosy fire crackles away in the open hearth.
In the dining room stands a huge wooden table that’s even older than the castle itself.
Most of the rooms have their own en-suite bathroom. Only the “Torr” room doesn’t – no problem, though, as you simply slip on one of the cosy bathrobes and pad across the hallway to your own bathroom.
New are the tower rooms upstairs, which can sleep four people plus children and come with a kitchenette. These are let on a self-catering basis.
In the mornings, the cook serves a typically hearty Scottish breakfast.
At lunch and in the evening, however, guests need to sort out their own food – Glengorm Castle only offers Bed & Breakfast and isn’t a hotel.
Fun fact: whisky in the library
The library has a selection of fine whiskies. Guests are welcome to help themselves free of charge, with glasses and a jug of water laid out ready.
That said, good manners call for appreciating and savouring these fine drams rather than overindulging. So please help yourself in moderation, and while you’re at it, have a read of the excellent whisky book that usually sits on the table in the middle of the room.
Outside there’s a walled garden where vegetables and flowers are grown – well worth a visit. It’s also worth taking a quick look at the coffee shop and gallery below the castle.
Otherwise, Glengorm makes a great base for some lovely walks.
Personal note: feeling like the lord and lady of the manor
By now, we’ve stayed at Glengorm Castle three times. Even though life at the manor isn’t cheap – rooms cost around £140 a night – our very first stay here got us hooked.
Last time, we didn’t arrive until dusk. We quickly took our bags upstairs so we could then sit on the benches behind the castle and watch this:
Did you know: a brutal clearance for Glengorm Castle
“Glengorm” roughly means “blue glen”. According to legend, an old woman suggested this name to the castle’s builder, James Forsyth. He failed to notice its double meaning: the “blue” actually referred to the smoke that once filled the glen, back when fires still burned in the hearths of the farm cottages. The laird had – none too gently – had the village cleared (as often happened during the Clearances) in order to build his country house.
The little castle was finished in 1860, but when Forsyth went to inspect the newly completed building, a bat flew into his face as he opened the door – a bad omen! For one of the evicted tenants had once cursed the builder: he would never sleep a single night in the new house himself. And indeed – shortly after the incident, Forsyth died, without ever having spent a night at Glengorm Castle.
Tips: walking to the standing stones
In good weather, take a walk out to the Standing Stones of Dervaig and the old natural harbour. It’s about a two-hour walk past cattle and sheep, with sea views and a brief detour into the woods.
If you’re lucky, the castle dog Lexi will tag along. She’s now six and a half years old (as of August 2015) and calmness itself. Lexi didn’t bark once on our walk! She trots along a few metres ahead, seeming to sense which way you’re going. If you stop, she simply sits down beside you.
Lexy has since had puppies of her own: Triggy is full of energy but also always stays close by. Leads for both dogs are kept ready at the entrance.
Getting there:
For your sat nav: entering “PA75 6QE” will take your car right to Glengorm Castle.
Directions: From the ferry at Craignure, head towards Tobermory. Shortly before you get there, however, turn off towards Dervaig and Calgary. After a few kilometres, a sign for “Glengorm 4” branches off – follow it. At first the road is still well surfaced, but it soon deteriorates into a narrow, bumpy single-track road with a few deep potholes. Strong nerves are especially useful for the passenger.
At the “Ardmore” sign, keep left and carry on. Later there’s another fork, again with an “Ardmore” sign – keep left here too. Eventually you’ll reach the “Glengorm Estate” sign, followed shortly by a gate with a cattle grid. Follow the road and keep right. Then comes a second, white gate, after which bear left (right takes you to the coffee shop) and drive up to the car park by the castle.
