Have you ever watched Drew Barrymore’s movie Ever After? Or maybe you’ve read Jude Deveraux’s book, A Knight In Shining Armor?
You don’t have to seek out a movie set or try to dive into the pages of a book to find your version of a happily ever after. Instead, you can write your fairytale right from the castle grounds below.
Some are a thousand years old, while others are more recent if you can call 1870 recent. By comparison, however, they’re luxurious oases that can help you stop time, even if just for a moment, and dream of a different life.
Ashford Castle, Ireland
On the west coast of Ireland, you’ll find a sprawling castle that dates back to the 1200s. Today, it’s a luxury hotel and resort with sprawling gardens, posh restaurants, an award-winning spa, and a beautiful dining area to savor some afternoon tea.
Amidst the grounds, don’t be surprised if you bump into an Irish wolfhound or two or see a falcon fly overhead. There are plenty of opportunities to partake in a falcon walk and even a horseback ride through the grounds.
Before you go – if you’re a sucker for romance novels – read Nora Roberts’ Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy, set in this fairytale land. It’ll prepare you for your upcoming adventures and make you wonder what really lives out there in the woods.
Dromoland Castle, Ireland
Not too far from Ashford, you also have Dromoland Castle. What started as a 15th- or 16th-century tower house is now a sprawling castle filled with luxurious rooms, decadent restaurants, and plenty of spots for afternoon tea.
Although they have similar fairyland activities like horseback riding and falcon meet-and-greets, you can also go a round on their onsite golf course. With an indoor pool and its own world-class spa, this is the perfect place to step back in time and relax and unwind.
Adare Manor, Ireland
A manor sounds far less grand than a castle, but you can be certain Adare Manor is no less dignified. This five-star luxury hotel takes a Neo-Gothic approach, overlooking no detail.
When you’re not lounging on a plush velvet sofa or dining in their Michelin-star restaurant, you can enjoy the expansive property. With their own golf course, hawk walks, and perfectly manicured gardens, you will easily get swept away by the winds of fate.
Don’t forget to dip into the town of Adare one night, too, for some live Irish music. As you’re walking, you’ll breeze past Medieval ruins, thatched roof cottages, a 13th-century church, and plenty of friendly locals just waiting for you to join them at the pub.
Ballyseede Castle, Ireland
Further south in County Kerry, you have another luxury hotel – and popular wedding venue. They, too, have an Irish wolfhound or two waiting to nuzzle you hello. The rooms at Ballyseede Castle are deliciously decadent, providing the sensation that you’re the queen of your own castle for the night.
In Ireland, the list is long with regard to ancient castles that have been turned into decadent resorts and popular wedding venues. The best way to uncover more is to visit the Romantic Castles of Ireland. It’s a collection of luxury castle hotels and popular event venues that will sweep you off your feet, whether or not you’re there to marry your own Prince Charming.
Glenapp Castle, Scotland
It’s wonderful to see Celtic history still standing so tall and proud. The Irish and the Scots will always be intricately linked, and not just for their beautiful landscapes and showstopping scenery.
Over in southwest Scotland, you’ll find Glenapp Castle, a relatively new masterpiece dating back to 1870. Since it’s on the west coast of Scotland, south of the Highlands, you’ll be able to enjoy a taste of those sweeping hills and untamed woodlands.
Here, you can enjoy a hawk walk or two, as well as salmon fishing and even a bit of beekeeping. When you lay your head on your pillow at night, you’ll certainly feel like royalty.
Crossbasket Castle, Scotland
Over in Glasgow, you can step out of the busy streets and into a peaceful oasis known as Crossbasket Castle. This is a remarkably renovated 17th-century castle that has quickly become one of Scotland’s most beloved hotels and wedding venues.
There’s nothing modern about Crossbasket’s furnishings, and we mean that in the best way possible. All nine suites are expertly decorated in a period style and named in honor of one of the custodians of the castle.
Here, you’ll dine in splendor, rest in an oversized bed, and wake up with a feeling that you’ve somehow stepped through the mists of time.
Neidpath Castle, Scotland
There’s a lovely couple, Kirsten and Joerg, who travel all throughout the UK, exposing some of its most delightful villages and historical hotels. One weekend, they spent a night or two in Neidpath Castle, a self-catering accommodation on the outskirts of Peebles.
They slept in Queen Mary’s Chamber, the same room the famous (or infamous) queen once laid her head. They sat by a roaring fire and luxuriated in a clawfoot tub at the end of their excursions.
As with any delightfully-done castle, Neidpath also serves as a wedding venue. But, if you’d like to have an entire castle to yourself for a night – and can survive the possibility of the ghosts that haunt its corridors – Neidpath would be such a treat throughout your next Scottish stay.
P.S. Be sure to check out Kirsten and Jeorg’s video to be transported through time, right from your own living room!
Dornoch Castle Hotel, Scotland
For a haunting fairytale feel, we simply must close out our Celtic adventures in the Highlands. This 15th-century stunner towers over the land, standing opposite the grounds of a 12th-century cathedral.
With an air of magnificence and grace, you’ll have your pick of over 20 en-suite bedrooms that are as lush and pristine as the castle grounds. With an award-winning restaurant and whisky bar, you never even have to leave the castle grounds to feel transported through time.
That said, if you’re a golfer, there are few prettier places to enjoy the sport than in the Highlands. The fact that the nearby Royal Dornoch Golf Club is the world’s third-oldest course certainly adds to the air of magic and mystery.
Castello di Reschio, Italy
As we bid farewell to the Celts, it’s time to enter into another stoic nation – Italy. Nestled into the heart of Umbria, you’ll find a 1,000-year-old castle turned high-end hotel. Looks like they have the Irish beat!
You won’t want to miss a thing throughout your stay here, from the elegantly refined rooms to the castle grounds with windswept scents of cypress trees.
Interestingly, what’s now a bathhouse steaming with therapeutic pools used to be the castle’s ancient wine cellars. Indeed, there’s a certain air about Castello di Reschio that you’ll never want to escape.
Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, Germany
Over to Germany – another remarkable nation that knows a thing or two about maintaining its rich history. Modeled after Versailles and Winchester Castle, it’s been dubbed the Rhenish Versailles.
Just outside Cologne, there’s plenty to explore in the area, although you won’t want to leave the castle grounds. With baroque-inspired rooms, a Michelin-star restaurant, and a holistic spa, this is a German version of heaven that will certainly make you feel like a fairytale princess.
Château des Sénéchaux
There’s no possibility of us wording it better than the hotel itself. Here’s one of the opening lines on their website:
Inspired by the soul of the property captured within the centuries-old stone walls, and the whispers of the spirits of those whose footsteps were once heard throughout the building, the Château des Sénéchaux offers a sublime backdrop for beautifully curated furniture and unique decorative objects from all over the world.
Stunning. That alone should make us all flock to their reservation page! What’s unique about this property is that it’s actually three independent and private properties in a restored French château.
You can spread out in luxurious living areas, make use of their stylish kitchens, or luxuriate in a clawfoot tub before strolling the grounds. Located in the Dordogne countryside, there are many fascinating walks to be had, as well as some of the finest wine this side of heaven.
Castell Son Claret, Spain
In case you didn’t get your fill of claret in Dordogne, you can give Spain’s offerings a spin. Located on the idyllic island of Mallorca, Castell Son Claret will not only plop you into something straight out of Disney, but also wrap you up in its ocean breezes and palm tree dances.
You’ll certainly want to soak up some Mediterranean sun by their pool before or after you wander the 326 acres. When you return, you can walk through their orchards before being seated at your table in their gourmet restaurant.
Bring Your Fairytale Dreams to Life
Even if only for a moment, you can bring your fairytale dreams to life at any one of these decadent locations. The staff will treat you like royalty; the bedding will help you sleep in peace at night; and the gardens and greenery will whisk you away.
Whether you’re headed to Ireland, Italy, or Spain, we have a destination guide to help you make the most of your time abroad. Here’s hoping we meet in one of these fairyland oases someday!