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Duns Castle: A Scottish stay fit for a Disney prince or princess

Aerial photo of Duns Castle in the beautiful Scottish Borders. (Maddi Bourgerie Home Away)
Aerial photo of Duns Castle in the beautiful Scottish Borders. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]

Staying in a fairytale castle is something we all dream of. But, for most of us, it isn’t every going to happen IRL. After all, unless you happen to be royal or a Disney princess, waking up in a grand four-poster bed in a castle tower overlooking acres-upon-acres of land isn’t likely.

One of several rooms you can stay in at Duns Castle. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]
One of several rooms you can stay in at Duns Castle. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]

Or is it?

Thanks to Home Away Holidays, that dream could become a reality. We were lucky enough to spend a night at the beautiful 14th century Duns Castle in the Scottish Borders, just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh (or a three-and-a-half train from London).

A couple walk through the lush grounds of Duns Castle. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]
A couple walk through the lush grounds of Duns Castle. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]

Called ‘the gem of the Scottish Borders’, Duns Castle has been in the Hay family since 1696, and is currently lived in by Alick and Aline. The welcoming couple, who moved in in 1985, have turn the castle into a warm and cosy family home – no small feat when you’ve got 12 bedrooms at your disposal and oodles of space to manage. And not just that, there are several beautiful cottages scattered around the grounds too. Certainly beats our small south London flat!

But what is there to do to pass the time in such a castle? With so much land on offer, it’d be rude not to strap on your walking boots, grab a big stick, maybe even a dog, and go exploring. Duns Castle boasts lush woodland, rolling hills and even a lake, home to hundreds of ducks, a few swans and, oddly, a bull or two.

Looking up the Duns Castle Driveway towards the Pavilion. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]
Looking up the Duns Castle Driveway towards the Pavilion. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]

Looking for something a little more regal? Duns has you covered. You can have some fun with some birds of prey and take part in a little falconry on the front lawn, try your hand at some clay pigeon shooting, do a spot of archery, and even brush up on your croquette skills. Don’t worry, the rules are handily written on a large chalkboard.

If you want to relax, lounge around and feel like the king of the castle, you can retire to the stunning drawing room with a book, a piece of cake and cup of tea. Or, seeing as you’re in Scotland, a fine whiskey.

The biggest highlight of a stay in Duns Castle however has to be evening dinner. The friendly castle staff will serve a lavish feast in the grand dining room, accompanied by wine, Scottish poems, tales, whiskey, and of course, the Laird and Lady of the manor.

So, remember to pack your finest evening wear. We only had trainers and felt extremely under-dressed.

The grand dining room of Duns Castle. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]
The grand dining room of Duns Castle. [Photo: Maddi Bourgerie at Home Away]

To celebrate the release of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, you can win the chance to stay at Duns Castle this summer. You and 20 of your friends will have 1,200 acres of idyllic Scottish countryside all to yourself for five nights, where you can live out your very own fairytale dream. You’ve got until March 31st to enter HomeAway’s amazing competition (worth almost £35,000). Visit their website for all the details.

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