Inverlochy Castle: 10 Reasons To Choose This Wedding Venue
Inverlochy Castle considers itself one of the finest country house hotels in Scotland.
And having spent a long weekend there myself, I can say with absolute certainty that it is.
Guests over the years have included HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Robert Redford, Sean Connery, Elton John, Anthony Hopkins, and Mel Gibson.
The castle, the food, and the service are of a quality seldom seen these days, and if you fancy a special weekend away then I highly recommend it.
More importantly though, you can actually get married at Inverlochy Castle.
Let’s take a look at what this spectacular wedding venue has to offer.
Inverlochy Castle Location
Inverlochy Castle is located in the West Scottish Highlands, surrounded by mountains, lochs, and glens.
The UK’s tallest mountain Ben Nevis is right on their doorstep, with the world renowned Loch Ness a short drive away.
This is a wonderful place to experience Scotland at its best.
Inverness is the closest city and you can drive it in 90 minutes.
The rest of Scotlands population centres are at least 2 hours away.
Don’t worry though, no matter where you are coming from, the journey will produce scenery that you just have to see.
Inverlochy Castle Exclusive Use
You don’t have to take Inverlochy Castle exclusively, providing your numbers are less than 20.
In this circumstance you can just make use of the rooms you require, whilst the rest of the hotel remains open to the public.
Once your numbers reach 20, you will have to take the entire estate to yourself.
This of course will increase the price fairly significantly, however if you can afford it then it’s definitely worth it.
Complete privacy for you, your family, and your friends in your very own castle.
Inverlochy Castle
Inverlochy Castle is spectacular both inside and outside.
And the position it occupies on the landscape will give you vistas like no other.
The exterior is grand and imposing like most castles are, and the interior is luxurious and opulent taking you back to a bygone era.
It really is a romantic setting for a wedding.
All of the rooms are full of antique furniture and beautiful paintings, and the views from virtually every window are stunning.
There’s so much to explore as well with reception rooms aplenty, including an excellent billiard room.
It’s surprisingly versatile too, and will provide a truly wonderful backdrop to your celebrations.
Inverlochy Castle Accommodation
There are 17 luxury bedrooms at Inverlochy Castle, each with their own private bathroom.
Four of the bedrooms are suites, but trust me there are no disappointing rooms here.
Each of them has its own character and design, with incredible views over the grounds and beyond.
There is also a Gate Lodge which has one double room and one single room.
It’s located at the end of the drive, but could be useful if you require some extra accommodation.
When I stayed none of the doors had locks on them, making the castle feel very much like a private home.
Inverlochy Castle Ceremony
Inverlochy Castle is licensed for civil, religious, and humanist ceremonies.
You are not able to have an outdoor wedding, but given the amount of rain the west coast gets that’s probably a good thing.
Inside the castle you have the choice of either the Drawing Room or the Great Hall.
Both rooms are full of character with historic decor and furnishings, with the Drawing Room able to seat 65 guests, and the Great Hall 80 guests.
The Great Hall is especially nice with its double height bay window letting in lots of light.
Inverlochy Castle Reception
If your numbers are less than 20, then a private Dining Room can be arranged for your dinner reception.
This will provide you with a nice intimate space, and stunning views over the Scottish landscape.
For larger parties up to a maximum of 80 people, there are a few options at Inverlochy Castle.
The Drawing Room is a nice choice, but if you are looking for more space then the Great Hall is your best bet.
Either way the surroundings, the service, and the food will be exquisite.
Inverlochy Castle Catering
The one thing that really sticks in my mind, from my stay at Inverlochy Castle is the food.
And there’s a very good reason for that.
Chefs Albert and Michel Roux are in charge of the kitchen there.
The Roux cooking dynasty being responsible for the UK’s first, three Michelin Star restaurant.
Inverlochy Castle itself has been awarded the AA 3 Red Rosettes.
They will work closely with you to create a culinary experience, that your guests will never forget.
It’s been ten years since I visited the castle, and I haven’t forgotten.
Inverlochy Castle Grounds
Inverlochy Castle is actually located in Lochaber, which is known as the outdoor capital of the UK.
As you can imagine there are a large number of activities available in the area.
You can go fishing on the estates own Loch Na Marag, or perhaps do some archery and clay pigeon shooting.
Further afield there are guided walks around Ben Nevis, and boat trips on one of the many lochs.
For the Harry Potter fan the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which starred in the movies, is definitely worth going to see.
Failing all that a nice gentle stroll through the woodland, is the perfect way to relax and enjoy the views.
Inverlochy Castle Bridal Suite
There isn’t a bedroom at Inverlochy Castle that you wouldn’t want to sleep in.
They are all absolutely fantastic.
And of course it’s entirely up to you which one you want to call the bridal suite.
However the Queen’s Suite is the flagship.
Located on the first floor, it has a four poster bed, massive bay windows, and spectacular views.
It also has a separate sitting area and a large bathroom with a huge bath.
If you choose to stay the night before your wedding, the Queen’s Suite will act as the perfect place for getting ready.
Inverlochy Castle Wedding Packages
For accurate pricing and availability, I would contact Inverlochy Castle directly.
They will be happy to tailor a specific package just for you.
In addition to this, they can carry out a number of other arrangements on your behalf.
To give you a rough idea of what’s on offer though:
- Great Hall or Drawing Room (19 people or less), price £350.
- Exclusive use of hotel (34 people b&b), price £8,459 (November to March), price £10,150 (April to October). Compulsory two night stay April to October.
- Gate Lodge, price £550 (November to March), price £620 (April to October).
- Wedding Breakfast, prices from £67 per person.
Inverlochy Castle Conclusion
So those are my 10 reasons you should consider Inverlochy Castle as your wedding venue.
Of course everybody has different tastes and opinions.
However if you are looking for a mesmerising exclusive use castle, located in the stunning West Scottish Highlands, with 17 luxury bedrooms, and AA 3 Red Rosettes catering; then Inverlochy Castle just might be the place for you.
Whilst you are here, you should take a look at some of the other wedding venues, featured on White Rose.
You can also find Inverlochy Castle’s website here.
Good luck with your wedding planning.