If lockdown has left you yearning for wide open spaces, Glenapp Castle might be the tonic you need. Set in a 110-acre estate on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast surrounded by manicured gardens, the 19th-century castle is well-positioned for guests to make the most of the wild countryside and coastline.
Once the home of shipping magnate James Lyle Mackay, known among peers as the First Earl of Inchcape and chairman of the Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company (P&O), the baronial style castle has retained its stately figure and adapted to meet the needs of contemporary visitors, with 17 individually designed guestrooms and a fine dining restaurant specialising in local produce, much of which is grown on the estate.
This summer, Glenapp will unveil The Endeavour, a sprawling four-bedroom abode occupying the entire top floor of the castle. Interiors of this exclusive apartment feature a blend of old and new, with a collection of artworks and artefacts that celebrate the maritime history of the region. Mackay’s former snooker room has been transformed into The Endeavour’s master bedroom, which is linked to the drawing room by a spiral staircase. In addition to the four bedrooms, the suite boasts a kitchen dining room, library, games room, sauna and wellness room for in-suite massages.
The prized perk for residents of The Endeavour is access to the castle’s roof and ramparts, which command spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde towards local hotspots such as the Isle of Arran, the fabled Mull of Kintyre and Ailsa Craig, which juts out from the chilly waters.
This summer, the castle will be offering al fresco dining at various locations across the estate including the Victorian Glasshouse, to allow guests to maintain social distancing. Prices for The Endeavour start from £4,500 (US $5,512) per night.
www.glenappcastle.com