We’ve got the lowdown on the best exclusive use venues in Scotland with capacious on-site accommodation
Your family and friends have come from far and wide – wouldn’t it be good to stretch out the celebration? It’s always worthwhile mentioning nearby hotels in your wedding invitation information card, but an even better idea is picking a venue that you can book for the entire weekend, with plenty of beds for your nearest and dearest!
Wedderburn Castle & Barns
Set in 80 acres of Berwickshire woodland and parkland, Wedderburn Castle and Barns can accomodate 42 guests on-site. “The rooms in the castle are filled with antiques but they have every modern comfort,” says events manager Cat Macdonald-Home. There’s also several cottages, with the same look and feel as the castle: “There’s a cute vintage-inspired cottage for two, as well as a large modern property for six.” More good news: with the option to self-cater, a morning-after barbecue is an option.
Harvest Moon Holidays
Set in a coastal paradise between North Berwick and Dunbar (an area that boasts less rain and more sunshine than other parts of Scotland), a sunny wedding could be on the cards at Harvest Moon Holidays in Tyninghame, East Lothian. “We can sleep around 100 people between our two sites,” explains the company’s Alexander Mitchell. The party can spread out across seven treehouses and seven safari tents in this lovely wedding venue by the sea.
Cambo Country House & Estate
“Cambo has a variety of venues for every type of wedding,” says Pauline Rennie at Cambo Estate, just outside St Andrews. “And, with 17 beautiful bedrooms, three cosy farm cottages, two luxury glamping tents and plenty of space to camp, there is space for everyone – and no immediate neighbours to complain about noise!” More than 50 guests can sleep over – and that doesn’t include those who bring their own tents! And when the ‘I dos’ are done, why not set up your own version of the Highland games or have a bash at clay-pigeon shooting?
Kinblethmont House
Kinblethmont House, in the rolling Angus countryside, has an amazing secluded feel to it, and the kind of surroundings that you see in a romantic period drama. Earlier this year, the venue’s owner, Robert Ramsay, announced a £100,000 investment to give brides and grooms the ultimate weekend wedding experience. The house already has 14 bedrooms sleeping up to 28, but the addition of seven chic cottages in the grounds, sleeping up to 54 guests, means there’s more room for everyone.
Archerfield House
Archerfield House itself can accommodate up to 30 guests in 15 luxurious bedrooms. But there’s plenty more space than that. Archerfield can also offer Marine Villa, the Boathouse, the Pavilion Suites, a cottage and nine lodges, which between them have a total of 70 bedrooms, so all your favourite people can spend a few nights celebrating your nuptials. And if you’re looking for ways to chill out after the big day, Archerfield has it covered. Guests staying on-site for a wedding can take advantage of two golf courses or relax and unwind in the spa. Sounds ideal!
Achnagairn Castle
Many in the wedding industry have fallen madly in love with Achnagairn Castle – and if you’ve ever seen the venue at Kirkhill, just outside Inverness, you’ll know why. “Everything about Achnagairn comes together to create a real wow factor,” says the venue’s Tanya Lacey-Solymar. “There’s the décor of its individually designed bedrooms and the beauty of the manicured grounds. But the real jewel in its crown as a wedding venue is the magnificent vaulted ballroom.” You can fill the castle’s 24 bedrooms with your guests and fill seven large luxury lodges, meaning that up to 130 people can be accommodated.
Dunglass Estate
Goldilocks would certainly be out of place at Dunglass Estate – because every bed is just right. There are three different accommodation options for making a weekend of it. “The main residential property at the estate is Dunglass House. It can accommodate up to ten guests, and is offered as part of our wedding packages,” says the venue’s Lucy Graudus. “We also have two delightful cottages on the estate which can both sleep six guests each.” The estate, in Cockburnspath on the east coast between Dunbar and Eyemouth, has its own 15th-century church in the grounds.