Traveling to Scotland is like something out of a fairytale. Historical sites, medieval ruins, epic battles, and legendary quests are just some of the amazing things that make the country unlike any other. As if that wasn’t enough, Scotland offers the chance to live like a king or queen by staying in a real castle. For our recent trip to Edinburgh, this was a top priority for me and I knew the experience would be magical. Turns out, I was right. It was an unforgettable time that we will never forget. A quick search for castle hotels near Edinburgh shows that there are actually quite a few options. After a lot of research and reviews, I chose two castles and we split our time in Scotland between them. However, even a few short days spent in the Melville Castle Hotel left us blown away. It’s important to note that this post was not sponsored, I just loved our experience so much that I wanted to share with others who may be searching for that perfect castle hotel near Edinburgh, Scotland.
1. Melville Castle Hotel has a fascinating history
The castle originally dates back as far as 1155, when it was owned by the Sheriff of Edinburgh and Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Galfrid de Malle. From there, the estate remained in his family until it was passed to Sir John Ross of Halkhead in 1371. The Ross family would continue to run the estate for several generations afterward.
In the late 1700’s, the original medieval domain was completely demolished, and a new, grander castle built on top of the site. Melville Castle hotel has a history of nobility and historical figures who became entranced by the castle’s impressive structure and grounds.
This includes a visit in 1828 by King George IV, whose visit to Melville Castle also attracted the interest of nearby neighbor Sir Walter Scott. In fact, Sir Walter Scott was a frequent visitor to Melville Castle, and even nods the estate in his poem, “The Gray Brother.”
Who knows not Melville’s beechy grove,
And Roslin’s rocky glen,
Dalkeith, which all the virtues love,
And classic Hawthornden?
After the castle passed into the Dundas family, it remained for generations. During the Second World War, it even served as a temporary army rehabilitation center.
2. It was once derelict, and almost lost completely
The immaculate grounds and stunning castle that you see today are thanks to a massive renovation project by the Hay Trust.
In the late 1980’s, the castle and lands were sold and suffered neglect that eventually forced it’s closure. It remained untouched to the point of dereliction.
When it was bought in 1993, the roof and floors were at the point of collapse.
It took over eight years of extensive restoration by the Hay Trust that led to the castle’s current glory. Interestingly, these works uncovered a stone staircase from the original foundations. The stairs, and their secrets, remain a mystery underneath the Main Hall today.
3. Melville Castle Hotel is family friendly
While the castle’s beautiful landscape, decorated tents, and banquet hall make it a popular private wedding venue, Melville Castle hotel is very family friendly.
In fact, on our recent family trip to Scotland, we knew that staying in a castle hotel was a must when traveling to Edinburgh with kids.
Besides allowing your family to step into a real-life fairytale, the hotel is accommodating to children and families of all ages.
Pack and plays for infant guests are available upon request, and we had one waiting for us on our arrival. Additionally, my kids were excited to find their own bunk-bed in a private, but open space right in our room.
What more could young kids ask for than seeing two beautiful horses outside of their window? Guests can feed the resident horses apples provided by the front desk, and visit the resident chickens.
4. The grounds are stunning
Once you enter the grounds to Melville Castle, it’s clear to see that this is no ordinary castle hotel. In fact, the estate is home to 54 manicured and woodland acres.
Guests can enjoy the landscaped gardens, complete with statues and a grand fountain just outside of their rooms, or walk along the extensive trails.
The River Esk runs along the property, and while there used to be a bridge to cross over, it is no longer intact for use.
There are even bee hives located on site. Visitors can find the hives on their walk through a map provided by the hotel.
For the more adventurous travelers, the castle also provides mountain bikes for use along private bike trails throughout the grounds. There are also remains of old buildings throughout the ride.
You can get an idea of how massive the estate is through this video of the drive through the grounds up to the castle:
5. Melville Castle is haunted
Or so they say.
While we didn’t encounter a ghost during our stay, there have been plenty of reported hauntings.
Visitors have claimed to witness sightings of some of the castle’s more famous residents, including Mary Queen of Scots, who often used Melville Castle as her hunting lodge.
The current owners as well as others have also claimed to see Elizabeth Rennie, wife of former owner Henry Dundas, while renovating.
In fact, there are several ghost reports on TripAdvisor from former guests. One review of Melville Castle hotel claimed:
“Our first night sleeping in the room we heard foot steps and loud crashes above us. Now the next day we talked to the reception as we came back to the hotel. They informed us that we were the absolute top floor and nothing was above us! We were staying in room 204 which is the top floor directly above the entrance. Apparently, room 106 is the absolute most haunted room on the property (aside from the bar area). They’ve had a guest leave the hotel because when she looked in the corner of the room, a girl was upside down in the corner of the ceiling staring back at her.”
Spooky!
If you’re interested in learning more about the city’s dark and creepy past, be sure to check out the Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh.
6. Melville Castle Rooms are unique
There are 33 bedrooms available for guests in Melville Castle hotel. These range from suites to your classic double room. Guests who may have mobility challenges or require handicapped access have two rooms set aside.
The layouts and décor of the rooms are unique as well, depending on where you are staying. Our bathroom was located in one of the hotel’s turrets, and we enjoyed beautiful views from every window.
Select first-floor bedrooms have special private access to the back lawn. This is where the fountain and horses, as well as chickens and a few statues are located.
Tip: Some guest reviews claim there can be a lot of noise when there is a wedding on site, due to the hotel’s more intimate size.
As mentioned previously, our room included a special bunk-bed hidden away in a small cove in the room. Our kids absolutely adored this feature.
Each room also comes with the full continental or cooked Scottish breakfast in the hotel’s cellar.
Heading to Scotland soon? Be sure to check out this Scotland packing list for everything you’ll need on your trip!
7. The current owners are young
As mentioned previously, Melville Castle was bought by the Hay Trust over 25 years ago. It has since been refurbished, renovated, and restored to it’s current state.
The castle remains in the Hay family, however, owner William Hay has passed the majority of the establishment duties to his son, David. At just 40 years old, directing a castle hotel is no small feat, even with help from his sister, Suzanne Hay.
However, the family team has managed not only to restore the medieval beauty, but to successfully turn it from a private wedding and corporate events venue into the historic hotel as we know it today.
You can read more about David Hay and what it’s like to own a castle here.
8. It is actually located outside of Edinburgh
Technically, Melville Castle is located in Dalkeith. However, it is just six miles from Edinburgh’s city center, which makes it a great option for those traveling to Edinburgh.
Conveniently, for those who aren’t renting a car, the hotel offers a bus that runs 24 hours to Edinburgh from the bus stop at the castle gates.
Due to the size of the woodlands of the hotel and it’s quiet location, there is not much available in terms of walking from the castle. However, there are other activities and sites nearby.
Apart from Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel is another must-see historical site. Located in the nearby village of Roslin, the chapel is a short 15-minute drive from Melville Castle hotel and rumored to have been the secret home to the Holy Grail.
The Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World is another attraction worth mentioning. Just over a mile from the hotel, it is home to many plants, flowers, exotic butterflies, reptiles, and fish.
Another lesser known attraction is located just 2 miles from Dalkeith. The Gilmerton Cove is a mysterious labyrinth of secret passageways and tunnels that have baffled archeologists.
Tip: Advance booking is required. Admission is by appointment only.
Flying in or renting a car from the airport? It takes about 18 minutes to get from Edinburgh Airport to Melville Castle, depending on traffic.
9. It was host to Mary Queen of Scots
Perhaps the most notable of the royalty to visit Melville Castle hotel was Mary Queen of Scots. In fact, not only was she a frequent guest to the castle, but her relationship with Seigneur David Rizzio, who was housed in some of the castle’s apartments, was the cause for controversy.
As a sign of his love for her, he planted a tree on the property. In return, she planted five oak trees along the drive, which have survived to this day.
Note: This map is provided to guests at Melville Castle hotel. I’ve edited it here to show where the trees can be found in relation to the castle.
Although this story did not have a happy ending, visitors can still see the trees, the undying symbol of their ill-fated love.
10. It is affordable
Normally, you’d expect to shell out a little extra for a luxurious stay in a castle hotel. However, Melville Castle is surprisingly affordable.
In fact, because it lies on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the hotel is considerably less expensive than some of those found in the city’s center or within walking distance to Edinburgh Castle.
The price depends on the time of the year and holidays, of course. However, the average booking price for a large double room is around 116£ per night. Don’t forget, that includes breakfast each morning!
Well worth the once in a lifetime experience of staying in a castle hotel, if you ask me!
For more information, including booking, location, and visitor information, check out the official Melville Castle website.
If you thought Melville Castle was gorgeous, it’s just the beginning. Be sure to check out this list of beautiful Scottish castles you can stay in for more!
Have you ever stayed at the Melville Castle hotel? Share your experience in the comments below!
It's Megan says
This is so gorgeous!! Also – 1155?! Wow!
Christina says
Isn’t the history amazing? I was constantly blown away by it all. We even stumbled upon St. Andrews kirk ruins in the nearby village of Gullane, which was originally established in the 800’s!
marciemcheung says
OMG I’m adding this to my bucket list! I keep hearing how kid-friendly Scotland is and I really want to visit with my boys!
Christina says
Love it! If you haven’t seen my post on Edinburgh (and surrounding areas) with kids, I definitely recommend checking it out. There is so much to do and see, I’m sure you and your boys would love it!
Luci Cook says
This is a beautiful place. I want to visit Scotland so much and now I know of a place that I can stay.
Christina says
That’s so great to hear! Scotland is such a magical place, you won’t be disappointed!
Molly says
That looks like such a fun place to visit! Who wouldn’t want to stay in a castle?
Christina says
I totally agree! I’m ready to make staying in a castle a full-time thing now! 😀
valerie says
This looks like the coolest place to stay! How fun, we have a similar hotel here in WA State near Seattle. Mandrisa Castle in Pt. Townsend, they say its haunted also!
Christina says
I had never heard of it so I looked it up and it looks like it was on Ghost Adventures! I’m really curious to watch that episode now!
izzydavid says
What an incredible story and place! Love haunted tales. Such a gorgeous renovation they did, too.
Izzy
http://www.IsabellaDavid.com
Christina says
I completely agree, the renovation is gorgeous. You would never know that it was once in such a state of disrepair!
AJ (@_ANNAlogy) says
I would love to be anywhere that feels like I’m in a fairytale! <3 this castle hotel definitely looks like a lovely place to stay in!
http://helloannajo.blogspot.com
Christina says
It definitely felt like a fairytale and my five-year-old daughter kept saying that she was a real princess. I don’t think it’s something she’ll ever forget!
jkrolak says
Very informative, interesting, and inspiring post! I loved reading about the history of the castle. And great photos.
Christina says
Thank you so much! I hope it inspires others who travel to Scotland to visit and stay, as it really is a magical place!
This Wanderlust Heart says
This truly looks like something out of a fairytales! I can’t believe you stayed in a castle! I’m adding Scotland to my bucket list!
Christina says
Love it! Scotland really is out of a fairytale, there are so many castles and so much history! The Highlands look like another world completely, there are even fairy pools!
stellymm says
Ok you has me “haunted”!!! I need to stay here some day in my life. That review you left gave me chills and not going to lie I had to read more reviews. Thanks so much for sharing this. I still haven’t been to europe much in my life yet but I am planning to eventually explore and would LOVE to stay at a place like this!
Christina says
I’m so happy to hear that it inspired you to visit! There are a lot of haunted stories and ghost sightings from guests, it’s crazy!
Rachel says
This looks like such a fabulous place to visit!
Christina says
It really is! If you’re ever in the Edinburgh area, I highly recommend checking it out!
Juan Pablo Alamos says
Excellent article.
With my wife we stayed a year ago at Melille castle, and it was a wonderful experience. After a trip of almost 24 hours from the south of Chile, specifically from the city of Punta Arenas, in the Strait of Magellan, we were able to enjoy sleeping in a castle and to know the wonderful city of Edinburgh and during 14 days travel from Inverness to London.
Greetings from Chile.
Christina says
Thank you so much, and that sounds like quite a trip! Definitely worth the long flights I’m sure though! We didn’t make it up to the Highlands but would love to go back and see Inverness and the Isle of Skye at the least.
Lyn Roddie says
I got married in Melville castle💑🎩👑👰 🏰3 years ago venue was stunning…fantastic 2 days from start to finish..recomend this jem of a place 👌👍
Christina says
I can only imagine what a magical wedding that must have been! Since we are too late having our wedding in a beautiful Scottish castle, I’m thinking maybe a vow renewal in the future!
Cynthia Morgan says
I recently stayed there in room 207, i think. My friend and I were watching tv when she jumped up, startled and asked if i saw it. She told me the curtain had moved, i didn’t see it. The next morning the tv came on by itself. I feel honored the energy there decided to show itself to us. Wonderful people and Tiki is a great hostess. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.