- Details
- Written by: Active Traveller Staff
Ashford Castle, Ireland
From £420 per night
Ashford Castle sits on the shores of Lough Corrib, the second-largest lake in the Republic of Ireland, in the middle of one of the country’s most cinematic landscapes. The five-star hotel played host to several Hollywood stars travelling to Ireland for films, or in search of their roots—including John Wayne, who filmed The Quiet Man near here, and whose room can still be booked.
The oldest parts of the building date back to the 13th century, though its present-day grandeur owes much to the de Burgo and Guinness families, who enlarged and embellished it across the centuries. There are 83 individually-styled rooms, each with its own character. The George V Dining Room—named for the king who dined here as Prince of Wales, on a hunting expedition—is the formal centrepiece, but the stone-vaulted Dungeon serves excellent pub food for those who prefer to dispense with the dress code. Activities on the estate include horse-riding, fishing, falconry or walking the two Irish wolfhounds, whose friendly nature belies their enormous size. The fascinating history tour around the castle and the nearby village of Cong, led by a local academic, is not to be missed.
Castel Pergine, Italy
From £115 per night
Perched on a wooded hill above the Sugana Valley with sweeping views of the Brenta Dolomites, Castel Pergine is not on many international tourist maps—but it should be. The medieval fortress—whose walls have sheltered bishops, mystics and even world leaders since the 1200s—was bought under community ownership in the 20th century, lovingly restored, and reopened as a hotel.
Run by Sofia and Manuel, the hotel takes pride in creating a quiet, unhurried atmosphere. None of the rooms have a TV or WiFi, and guests are encouraged to undertake a digital detox. You can stay inside the medieval towers themselves, and the property hosts a regular programme of contemporary art exhibitions and events. The bar and restaurant can get quite lively when there are events on. But for the most part, this castle is a quiet, contemplative base for walkers and cyclists—a place to relax, unwind, and immerse yourself in nature.
Burg Colmberg, Germany
From £105 per night
From its hilltop location in the heart of Franconia, Burg Colmberg has been watching over the Bavarian countryside for more than a thousand years. The castle served as a base for the Hohenzollern kings for five centuries and even passed through the hands of the last imperial consul of Japan before the Unbehauen family—now in their third generation of ownership—converted it into a hotel in 1964.
Today, its position between the world-famous medieval towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Ansbach makes it a great place to stop for a few nights—especially if you’re following the the “Romantic Road” itinerary through the region, which passes by here. The restaurant is a highlight, serving venison from the castle’s own reserve, alongside an exclusive ark beer, brewed solely for Colmberg. Like all good castles, it also has a ghost—a lady in white, who supposedly haunts the corridors.
Inverlochy Castle, Scotland
From £250 per night
In 1873, Queen Victoria spent a week at Inverlochy, sketching the view and writing in her diaries that she had “never seen a lovelier or more romantic spot”. Little has changed in the intervening 150 years. The 19th-century castle sits three miles from Fort William, overlooked by the looming hulk of Ben Nevis, and surrounded by the glens and lochs of Lochaber—one of Scotland’s most spectacular regions.
There are 17 individually-designed rooms and suites available to guests, ranging from the intimate walled garden rooms to grand castle chambers hung with guilded chandeliers. The restaurant offers a five-course tasting menu that’s renowned as one of the finest in the Highlands, while the estate provides all manner of daytime entertainment: archery, fly fishing on private loch and wildlife tours are all on offer. For those who want to arrive in style, they can arrange a Rolls Royce Phantom pick-up from any Scottish airport.
Château de Brissac, France
From £430 per night
France isn’t short of romantic Châteaux, but many of these are more country house than castle. Not so the Château de Brissac—a properly chunky medival fortress nicknamed “the Giant of the Loire Valley”. With seven storeys, it claims to be the tallest castle in France, and sits in the middle of 173 acres of parkland, formal gardens, and vineyards. The château has been the property of the Ducs de Brissac without interruption since 1502, making your host the 13th Duke himself, and staying here is less a conventional hotel experience than a privileged glimpse into aristocratic French life.
The family opens a handful of bedrooms to B&B guests between April and October each year, and an overnight stay includes a guided tour as well as a sumptuous breakfast. The rooms are dressed with antique furniture, and feature period stone fireplaces. When the day visitors leave in the afternoon, guests have the run of the entire estate. Many of the Loire’s best-known winemakers are nearby, as are the historic towns of Angers and Saumur.
Castel Badia, Italy
Prices on request
Opened just last year, Castel Badia occupies an 11th-century Benedictine fortress in northern Italy. For eight centuries the castle served as a convent for noble women. After Napoleon surpressed the order, it became a military hospital and was used during the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleonic rule.
The medieval frescoes uncovered during its recent restoration indicate the depth of its history. This transformation—overseen by two local families whose backers have invested €30 million—is breathtaking: 28 rooms and suites combine original stone walls, vaulted ceilings and reclaimed South Tyrolean wood with clean contemporary design. There’s a spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools and saunas, and a restaurant, Stube Badia, that’s helmed by a Michelin-experienced chef. The castle is moments from the ski lifts of Kronplatz, which in summer serve one of Italy’s best bikeparks. Guests benefit from a free shuttle, and golf at the nearby Pustertal course.
