Meet Stef and Simon, owners of Kilmartin Castle; an authentic, exquisitely restored Scottish castle that dates all the way back to the 16th century, set within acres of unspoilt Argyll wilderness.
What first inspired you to create Kilmartin Castle as a retreat?
Traveling ourselves and experiencing different boutique hotels around the world that we both loved, and then traveling through Scotland and feeling unable to find a castle that felt the way we would like a castle to feel, authentic but fun.
Have you always been in hospitality? If not, what else did / do you do?
Nope, not at all, We are not professional chefs, but we ARE professional eaters. We have always been really interested in new hospitality concepts, so that made it easy to have clear ideas on what we want and don’t want when opening our own place.
What’s the best thing about being the owner of Kilmartin Castle?
It’s just really fun to live and work in an old building like this. It’s got a good vibe inside.
What’s your favourite feature of the retreat?
The stonework is awesome, being cocooned in bare stone walls and ceiling with underfloor heating is just perfect.
What do you love about the local area?
Kilmartin Glen is packed with standing stones, hill forts and stone circles. The largest concentration of neolithic sites in mainland Scotland. Plus we are close to the coast so the access to the ocean is perfect.
What’s next for Kilmartin Castle?
We spent lockdown building a wild swimming pond and outdoor kitchen and dining area with a fire pit, so just enjoying this and doing some pop-ups with local chefs.
If you couldn’t stay at your place, where would your ideal holiday be?
We like the countryside in the south of France, not on the coast, just in the countryside, surrounded by those adorable medieval villages on the tops of green rolling hills with great bread and a little neighborhood wine bar where the owners don’t speak English.
Sum up Kilmartin Castle in three words.
Hip. Relaxed. Friendly.
If you were visiting, how would you spend a day at Kilmartin Castle?
Wake up and have an awesome locally grown and sourced breakfast and coffee, go for an invigorating wild swim in our pool, then go walking out around the standing stones, have lunch at Lucys café, visit the Kilmartin Glen museum, maybe a boat trip out to the islands including Jura then end with some seafood in our local pub. Then hangout in the castle grand hall drinking a Jura 12 single malt beside the fire with a small group of likeminded folks sharing stories of your day.
Find out more about Kilmartin Castle via their Host Unusual listing and book your grand castle stay today!
