In the heart of Speyside, where the River Spey slips quietly through a landscape shaped by centuries of whisky craft, sits the luxury whisky castle Rothes Glen. Many people dream of staying in a Scottish castle and here, that dream can become a reality. Although Rothes Glen isn’t a typical hotel in Scotland, this Morayshire based castle can be booked by the room for a luxury stay during one of their indulgent themed weekends. I had the pleasure of attending the Ultimate Gourmet Weekend and let me tell you all about it!
Rothes Glen: The luxury castle for whisky connoisseurs in Scotland
Staying in a historic building like this is always such a pinch-me moment for me. I have an incredibly soft spot for old buildings and the fact the family that owns Rothes Glen has also decorated it with gorgeous antiques instead of trying to modernise it makes me so incredibly happy. The family also uncovered original details like the tiled floor at the entrance. And a wall painting hiding behind wall paper which has now been unveiled. The building was originally built as a summer house. Not only are there enough rooms to get lost trying to find them all, there is also a tower you can climb and get up to admire a fantastic view. If you are looking for a castle to stay in somewhere in Scotland, it’s sure to be a fascinating and luxury focused weekend at Rothes Glen
A fun fact for whisky geeks (like me!): The architect behind Rothes Glen is the well-known Charles Chree Doig. He is most known for the Doig Ventilator – or pagoda rooftop – that can be seen at so many distilleries.
♥ Don’t miss my guide to the things to do and see in Speyside to help plan your visit to this fantastic part of Scotland!
The Rooms at Rothes Glen
All the rooms at Rothes Glen have their own charm and unique quirks to them. Since the furniture is predominantly made up of antiques, they really give such character to the building. They’ve been well matched with the interiors and feel of the place. For guests there is a little welcome package with a decanter of house whisky as well as shortbread and rehydration tablets (if you have a dram too many). In the room you’ll also find a decanter of water with water glasses. On the bed is a little welcome letter and a map to help you find the hidden whisky across the grounds.
The ‘ Phoebe’ bedroom
I had the pleasure of staying in the beautiful bedroom Phoebe this time. I believe I was in the Admiral bedroom last time. And remember thinking that it was the most beautiful bedroom I had ever stayed in then. Phoebe definitely managed to live up to those expectations. The bed is very comfortable and I slept really well here, in spite of having wine for dinner and an after dinner dram – which usually is a recipe for poor sleep for me.
As I almost always do, I opened a window to let in fresh air. The temperature throughout the stay with the window open was just perfect. Not only is the bedroom massive with plenty of spaces to sit or unpack clothes. But the bathroom could easily fit a bed as well. The freestanding bath in the centre of the room is a lovely spot for a bath (trust me) and there are also two sinks and a shower in here. To my delight there was also soap, shampoo and conditioner available in the shower as well.
The Food at Rothes Glen
I think I might’ve found my new favourite Scottish chef. And that is Alan Robertson who is the resident chef at Rothes Glen. Everything he cooked over the weekend was excellently balanced and was exactly along the lines of what I like in food. The menu had incorporated a lot of local and seasonal ingredients. I will in particular be remembering a delicious apple tarte tatin, a scallop with crab agnolotti and the first asparagus of the season.
Inside Rothes Glen: What a Castle Stay in Scotland Looks Like
There are 14 ensuite bedrooms at Rothes Glen, each with a king sized bed and individually decorated. The antique furniture, paintings and tapestries have been locally sourced from antique dealers, auctions and shops. Some of the curtains, throws and rugs are original. Some are from the nearby mill Johnstons of Elgin who are well known for their cashmere and merino accessories. Besides the bedrooms there are several social rooms including a games room with a snooker table, a tasting room and a vault where the whisky and wine is kept. As a guest you get the key to your own cabinet here where you can keep a bottle if you wish. Up near the tower is the tower room, where you can enjoy a dram with a view. On the grounds you will find a topiary garden, a pond and lining the entrance road are several cherry trees.
Gourmet Weekend at Rothes Glen Itinerary – A luxury castle stay in Scotland
The itineraries change from weekend to weekend. I wanted to share what our schedule looked like to give you a taste of what you might be able to expect when you book to stay in a castle in Scotland like Rothes Glen. Rothes Glen does not just offer Gourmet Weekends but other themed experiences. Such as the Ultimate Whisky Weekend, Ultimate Scottish Weekend with Andy the Highlander and an Ultimate Christmas Weekend which just sounds fantastic.
Foraging
Chef Tim Maddams joined us on the grounds for a walk and showed us all little plants he could find that were edible all around us. A fascinating walk and we really do not appreciate how many plants in our garden that we could actually be using for food.
Lunch at The Macallan
It wouldn’t be a luxury stay at a castle in Scotland without a distillery visit. I have not been to The Macallan Distillery since they launched their new restaurant in the space where the tour used to be so was delighted to get to try the lunch here.
Read my full review of this experience here.
Tony Singh Cookery Demonstration and Supper Club
Celebrity chef Tony Singh joined us for a day and offered a fantastic cookery demonstration where we learned how to make cheese-stuffed flatbreads with coriander and chili which we ate with a lovely dahl. Later the same day we also had the pleasure of enjoying a Supper Club with seven courses and paired wine. Just imagine how full I was after all of this. But very happy – and it was all incredibly tasty.
Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting
We left Rothes Glen and went on a wee excursion to the beer brewery Spey Valley. At the brewery we did a tour and learned more about the production here. Before tasting a few different beers paired with various little treats. One of my favourite pairings was a stout with smoked cheddar!
Savour & Sip Whisky Pairing with Alan Robertson and Stephen Crossland
Stephen at Rothes Glen hosted a lovely whisky tasting paired with canapes by chef Alan. I just love pairing whisky with food as it really gives you an opportunity to explore flavours together. One of the pairings in particular really enhanced the whisky when it was paired with the food as it really needed something to even out the woody note that it had.
Casino Evening
I got my first ever casino experience here at Rothes Glen. And where better but a luxury castle stay in Scotland but to try blackjack and roulette for the first time ever? Not very surprising I was terrible at blackjack… But managed to somehow claw my way back through the roulette. I even ended up in second place after a nail biting last round. There are prizes to be won, but the casino evening is Rothes Glen house rules only and no actual cash is involved.
After-dinner fireworks
Fireworks on the grounds after dinner was such a spectacular finale to a wonderful weekend. When can I come back?
If you are looking for a luxury castle stay in Scotland, this sure is a special one!
Additional Information
- Address: Rothes Glen, Rothes, Aberlour AB38 7AQ
- Website: https://www.rothesglen.com/
- Price Range: Room prices starting at £375 per night or £2000 for a themed weekend for two including food and drinks
- Check-In/Check-Out: From 15.00 and before 10.00
- Amenities: Private grounds, en-suite bedrooms, social rooms, private dining, whisky selection, WiFi, games room, cooked a la carte breakfast
- Perfect For: Couples, whisky enthusiasts, food aficionados, honeymoon
FAQ | Rothes Glen, Castle to stay in Scotland
Rothes Glen can be booked by the room during its themed weekends and weeks such as the Spirit of Speyside Festival.
Rothes Glen is located outside the town of Rothes in Morayshire and Speyside and can be booked on a hotel room-by-room basis during specific weeks of the year.
Usually the single occupancy rate is displayed on the themed weekend pages on the website and can be booked by using a specific code.
It is possible to book Rothes Glen for a wedding – and what a beautiful venue for it.
Rothes Glen was built in 1896 and has had a few different uses throughout its years.
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Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
