Glenapp Castle

We stayed in the penthouse suite with our family for 2 nights. The accommodation was superb with plenty of room for the 8 of us and entertainment for the 2 younger children. We were made very welcome by the staff who were friendly and attentive at all times. We had lovely meals that everyone enjoyed. We also had a cookery experience and a falconry session which were both thoroughly enjoyed by all. All in all a wonderful time that we will not forget.

Nine of us stayed at Glenapp Castle for five nights in June. We had the 4 bedroom penthouse suite, which comprises the top floor of the castle. The suite is decorated nicely. It is clean and comfortable, and there are plenty of toiletries for easy travel. My husband and I found the bed in the master bedroom to be extremely comfortable, and our guests in the other three rooms all mentioned how amazing the beds were as well. The bathrooms are all large and beautifully decorated and the water pressure in the showers is great. The castle was originally built in 1870, and they have done a lovely job of renovating/ modernizing the rooms it while also maintaining the architectural integrity. The suite is very cozy, and I bet it would be absolutely lovely in the winter months. The best I can describe staying in the suite as is almost like staying in a life-size dollhouse. The floor plan is charming, but awkward (like most old houses and castles are). There are stairs to get up to the master, more stairs to get up to the master bath, stairs to get down to the bathroom from one of suites, and steps and halls and more stairs to find the other 2 bedrooms (which are way at the opposite end of the first 2). I would like to note that although there is elevator access to the one side of the suite with the two latter bedrooms, I would say it is only partially ADA accessible based on the difficulty it would be to navigate to the opposite end of the suite. Our main complaint about the room was that when we arrived our bedroom was extremely warm. This was due to a combination of the fact that the heat was on in the rest of the castle due to weather, the windows are small with little air flow, and the large skylight they designed above the bed in the master bedroom resulting in a bit of a greenhouse effect. The master bedroom is up an additional set of stairs from the main living area (actually, 2 sets of stairs and one is wide open to the living room below), which resulted in all the hot air rising into our bedroom. We like to sleep cold, so were extremely uncomfortable the first night. However, the staff was able to provide several fans for our room and change out the bed linens to lighter blankets and sheets, which made it much better. (Note: there is no air conditioning in the castle). The staff at Glenapp is some of the kindest we have met in our travels. Benjamin, the Operations Manager, even took my parents with him to church on Sunday. I would describe it as one big happy family that truly wants you to enjoy your time in Ballantrae. They go out of their way to make you happy and accommodate guest needs. As mentioned above, there were nine of us on the trip. Our sixteen year old son has a rare genetic disorder that can make travel difficult with him. He has both medical and behavioral needs, and the castle staff was extremely respectful and responsive to this. For example, when we asked if we could change up the prix fixe dinner menu, they offered themed

WOW is what I can say about this 5 star experience…our son’s marriage in the garden of the castle, our well appointed rooms in the exquisite castle, incredibly delicious food specially prepared by the chefs and the loveliest accommodations throughout the castle all with family and friends securing the entire castle. It was like a Disney fairytale wedding and total experience. for 3 full days. The staff is beyond attentive and gracious. They make you feel special. Shout out to John, Katie, Benjamin, Fiona and the entire staff. We had the privilege of meeting the owner as well, who takes pride in creating a total experience. Whether solo, family or group looking for the most beautiful memorable vacation or event, never hesitate to select Glenapp Castle!

The Glenapp Castle Experience was a lovely blend of luxury, sophistication, and natural beauty, with superb service and perfect touch of friendliness. My husband and I felt welcomed, pampered, and relaxed within the castle and around the majestic landscape of the property. Unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to make reservations for a formal tea 24 hours in advance; however, when we showed up unexpectedly and requested a Tea, Jen pulled together the perfect tea for us quite literally out of thin air. She was also available throughout the stay to ensure our comfort. Additionally, Benjamin, the operation manager, personally saw to our needs during our stay. When we shared with him that my husband and I have a tradition of buying a Christmas ornament for our tree from every place we have been, he made it his mission to make certain that we did not leave Glenapp without one! I would be remiss if I did not share that all our meals were five-star quality! When you are at Glenapp you feel as if you are royalty and like you are family!

As many previous reviewers have indicated, Glenapp is excellent on every level so don't hesitate to stay there. It's an experience not to be missed. To summarize: -Lots of hotels claim five star service, few deliver. Their staff is there for every question or issue. Everyone knows who you are from the moment you arrive even when they haven't met you. Seemless and this is what defines good service. It's more than just smiles and it requires a lot of work. Perfect. -Gorgeous inside and out. Gorgeous grounds. You won't be dissapointed. -The greenhouse dining option is not to be missed. Beautiful yet casual and relaxing. Jen made it special. -Food was excellent for every item at every location. Frankly, I can't think of a single opportunity for improvement. There is clearly a huge amount of work that goes into this level of care and organization. Great job!