Chistmas Fantasy in July - Inverlochy Castle

Since it is nearly 100 degrees and so humid that it feels like a sauna in my part of the world today, I thought that I would take a moment to reflect up on a place that I have dreamed of spending Christmas for several years now.  Yes, this dream does generally come up in the hot summertime, but it is still a dream that I would like to fulfill.  If your Christmases are anything like mine, they are generally enjoyable, but usually filled with rushing from place to place, eating large meals and opening gifts at each home. This becomes even more daunting in the modern age with so many broken and blended families.  By the time that Christmas is over, with its stress, family dramas, overeating, hurried driving, etc., you end up exhausted and wondering how it all passed so quickly.  So, my go-to fantasy of Christmas involves myself and my husband sneaking away one Christmas to a beautiful, luxurious and peaceful place, and to enjoy the time as it slowly passes.  Where might this place be, you ask? Well, let me tell you....

Morning, December 24 - 
Imagine that you arrive at the airport in Edinburgh.  Now, usually when you arrive here, you must make your way to the car rental area and spend time checking in and claiming your car, but today, there is non of that hassle.  Because today, THIS is what picks you up, a gleaming Rolls Royce Phantom, here to shuttle you to your fantasy Christmas break. You settle back in its plush seats and take time to relax (and possibly nap) as it drives you to your luxurious holiday accommodations.
Yes, the drive is a little long, 3 hours, but who minds with such a comfortable ride?
After your relaxing drive across breathtaking countryside, you arrive, and before you looms the Inverlochy Castle Hotel.

Photo courtesy Inverlochy Castle

Photo courtesy Inverlochy Castle

This Victorian castle is stunning.  Set in amongst lochs and mountains with views of Ben Nevis, Inverlochy Castle is simply beautiful.  After being greeted warmly by the courteous staff, you are whisked away to the room that you have requested (the Queen's Suite).  Once inside the Queen's Suite, you indulge in a luxurious bubble bath in the deep antique tub. When you emerge from your relaxing bath, there is tea and biscuits, which you eat while looking out the large windows at the snow covered mountains.
After an afternoon of relaxation, you assemble with the other hotel guests in the festively decorated Great Hall, where you are treated to Christmas music and a Champagne reception before being treated to a delicious meal.  After dinner, you return to you room where you curl up in your comfy four-poster, canopied bed and sleep the night away with visions of sugarplums in your dreams.
Christmas morning dawns bright and crisp with a fresh layer of snow covering the nearby mountains.  After enjoying a delicious chef-prepared breakfast, you bundle up and take a leisurely stroll our the hotel grounds, enjoying the views of Ben Nevis.  A little cold from the morning walk, you decide to spend the rest of your morning in front of the fireplace in the Great Room getting to know your new friends who are also enjoying a Christmas break.
A little while later, you return to your room where you are greeted by Father Christmas, who has brought you gifts and Champagne! After enjoying your champagne and gifts, you make your way
back down to the Great Hall, where you are served a traditional Christmas lunch while listening to beautiful music.

Photo courtesy Inverlochy Castle

There are so many dishes to choose from, but your favorites are the Roasted Turkey with winter vegetables and chestnut stuffing, followed by mince pies and chocolates.   After lunch, you decide that a leisurely walk around the grounds is in order, followed by an afternoon curled up in front of the fireplace, reading your favorite novel.  After such an enjoyable day, you are ready for a light dinner and an evening listening to live Christmas music in the Great Hall.

Photo courtesy Inverlochy Castle

Boxing Day Delights
After such a restful and enjoyable Christmas day, you are up early and ready for an eventful Boxing Day.  In the Dining Room, you indulge in a Full Scottish Breakfast. With so many delicious choices, you leave the Dining Room filled to the brim with breakfast goodies.  A walk around the grounds in the fresh snow seems like just the thing to work off some of that extra energy.  After your walk, you return to the front grounds and enjoy a spellbinding falconry display, followed by Clay Pigeon Shooting (which you excitedly join in) and a Sheep Dog trial later in the afternoon. After spending the day in the fresh air and sunshine, you decide that an early night would top off your day, and retire to you Suite for the evening where a room service dinner is brought to you.
Your Christmas break has flown by, but you leave the next morning (in the Rolls Royce) happy and well rested, full of Christmas Cheer.
To find out more about Inverlochy Castle Christmas http://inverlochycastlehotel.com/festive/christmas/

Well, this is the end of my Christmas Fantasy. I hope that wherever you are, you enjoy a little Christmas magic in July today,

Delightful Doune

Doune Castle is not a name that most people will recognize, by many people might know it from it's role in famous films and television shows.  Perhaps its most famous appearance was in the 1975, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where King Arthur and his knights invade Doune in search of the Holy Grail.  There is even an annual "Monty Python Day" at the castle. It has appeared in both Ivanhoe films and in the TV Series, Game of Thrones, as Winterfell.

Most recently, fans of the Starz adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series will recognize it as the McKenzie stronghold Castle Leoch.  Starz did an excellent job of transforming Doune Castle into Castle Leoch, and you can watch just how they accomplished that in this video from TV Guide:

In it's present form, Doune was constructed by the Duke of Albany between 1375 and 1425.  It has lots of wonderful rooms and spaces to explore.  A couple of my favorite places to visit in it are the "Mary Queen of Scots" bedchamber with it's modern (for 1500's) toilet and sleeping closet.  Also, on one of the upper floors is a small, cosy round bedchamber that I could imagine myself settling into quite nicely :)   The Lord's Hall is a lovely room that has been restored, and can be rented for events.

 

It seems like, for our family, a trip to Scotland is never complete without an awkward or embarrassing story to tell.   Doune Castle was not an exception to this.  On one visit to Doune several years ago, the public toilets were being constructed in a small cottage near the entrance of the castle.  At this time, there were portable toilets for public use.  There were not porta-potties, but full bathrooms.  My dear mother-in-law, Tater, was along with us on this trip.  Upon exiting the toilet, she pulled what she "thought" was a string that turned out the lights.  It wasn't.  We figured this out when a loud siren immediately started sounding!  It was some type of an emergency alarm.  So, we did exactly what anyone else would do... We ran as fast as we could to the car & sped away! 

The picture above is of myself and my husband on a more recent trip, taken in front of the more picturesque toilets at Doune.  Thankfully, this time we did not set off any alarms! 

Doune Castle is a Historic Scotland property.  They are open year-round, unless filming is taking place.  Other information including opening times, and admission prices are listed on their website:
Historic Scotland - Doune Castle

If you are interested in reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, I would highly recommend it!

Outlander Series