Ardoe House Hotel & Spa

Aberdeenshire is known as Scotland's Castle Country. It has more castles per acre than anywhere else in the UK, with over 260 castles, stately homes and ruins.

With two days booked in Aberdeen, we were planning on visiting quite a few...until we pulled up to our hotel Ardoe House Hotel & Spa, which looks like a castle. Their website describes the building as a 19th century baronial mansion. It was built in 1878, and was a family home until 1947! Nice.

The Devenick Suite is on the top left side and the Turret is top right.

I just had a look at the Visit Aberdeenshire website and read, "Guests to Ardoe House often discover that, contrary to their original intentions, they never actually leave the estate. With the gorgeous bedrooms, expansive grounds, spa treatments, food and drink offerings." That's hilarious and true.

I don't think we had even hauled our bags up the stairs yet, before we cancelled all of our plans and decided to just hang out there. The hotel is almost an attraction in itself. Then we found out we had the best rooms. When we checked in, my dad asked for the better room of the two. He was given the Turret Suite and I got the Devenick. Both rooms were unbelievable.

We went into my dad's room first. It was nice. Then we checked out my room. I was pleasantly surprised that this was second best. It was big! There was a full sized couch, a sitting area, a roll top tub in the bedroom, a walk in closet, separate bathroom. My dad started to have a fit that my room is better. Lol. I loved my room. If I ever write a novel, I'm going to do it here. 

The Devenick Suite

He wanted to look at his room again. We went back into his room, and this time I opened a door that had a spiral staircase behind it, that climbed high up the turret onto a second floor sitting room! His room is called the Turret! It had magnificent views. And all the furniture in his room was purple ahhh!

There is a spa and heated indoor pool on site. It felt great to be able to go for a swim, however, it was a bit of an obnoxious nightmare as little kids were having swim lessons and the acoustics amplified the noise. Oh, well I had to to endure it.

There was a big party, probably a wedding reception, our first night. We had a wee nosy. I heard the revelers wander outside around 3am. No bother. I didn't have anywhere to be the next day.

The weather was great. We spent time outdoors under the magnificent old trees. The hotel sits on 30 acres. 

Whiskey Bar

While in the lounge, one of the employees came round to open the windows. He said they haven't been opened in 20 years. We chatted with him for a few minutes before he told us about three cows they have on the property! What?! Highland coos! 

We took off to find them. OMG! They came right up to the fence. One licked my hand with it's really long and rough tongue. It did not want to be petted though. Each time I tried, it gently horned me away from touching it's head. Ok, got it. Oh, I just learned that their names are Millie, Molly & Mandy.

I loved Ardoe House Hotel & Spa, so much, it felt like I was staying in a castle. It was so fun! Everything was outstanding from the moment we arrived. The staff, food, grounds, pool, and the cows! It was a very memorable stay and a highlight of our trip. I only wish we could have stayed longer! I will be back!

A few notes: Our rooms were so high up we had no wi-fi. No elevator. Terrible beer selection, according to my dad. 

Though I missed exploring Aberdeen, it was so nice not being in the car for 2 days. Plus, it gives me more reason to come back. The day we checked out was our final day with the car woohoo! Our next stop was Dunnottar Castle.