INCREDIBLE UK CASTLES FOR A FAIRY TALE BREAK WITH THE KIDS

We all know that time is precious.  In particular, time spent with family can be the most precious of all and often creates the most treasured memories that we have.  Here we have come up with some magical and wonderful castles, in the UK & Ireland, in which to spend a fairy tale break with families of all ages.  Fully staffed, catered and exceedingly luxurious, these castles are all privately owned and very much family homes.  They offer a real home from home, a world away from the hustle and bustle of life, with service to rival even the finest hotels in the world.

Birkhill Castle, situated in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland, is nestled in a 2,000 acre estate on the shores of the Tay Estuary.  The castle is steeped in history which is fascinating for children and parents alike.   Also it has great charm and style, reflecting the family’s diverse interests and lively spirit. Sitting within the walled garden is a heated swimming pool, and the castle itself is surrounded by formal gardens and woodland. There is a billiards room, tennis court, croquet lawn, a private beach from which you can take boat trips to see puffins as well as ten, 9 hole golf courses in Fife which are suitable for children or beginners. Further afield, and for the older children or grown ups, but still within a 40 mile radius of the Castle you can access 100 golf courses, including the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, Ladybank, Elie, Crail and Kingsbarns to name but a few.

Situated in rural Perthshire, The Tower of Lethendy is a true fairy tale castle.  It is a children’s playground with so much to offer kids of all ages and everything is there on the doorstep.  There is a fabulous heated, outdoor swimming pool, sauna and small gym.  For the sporty types there is a grass and a hard tennis court, loch and river fishing along with kind and experienced gillies to instruct children (and adults) where necessary.  Ideal for children and indeed, golfing families, is the private 18 hole golf course in the grounds of the castle (designed by Ben Crenshaw) where professional instruction can be arranged.  There are wonderful places to cycle and explore the local area passing through some spectacular scenery including the beech hedge at Meikleour which is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest hedge in Great Britain and the tallest of its kind in the world.

This is an enormous fairy tale castle situated in the Malvern Hills.  Set in a 5,000 acre estate and surrounded by a lake, deer park and arboretum, this impressive castle enjoys a wonderfully romantic setting with stunning backdrops. Within the grounds there are plenty of fun activities to amuse all ages. There are argocats and hovercrafts for whizzing around the grounds and the lake, landrovers for going off road and quad bike safaris. Archery and clay pigeon shooting are popular for the slightly older children and horse and carriage driving is also available. This castle is grand in style but is also a family home with so many exciting treasures and places to explore.

Lismore Castle is an historic castle refurbished to an exceptionally high standard in County Waterford, Ireland. It is hard to find anywhere in Ireland that can match this unique home. The updated facilities appear to blend seamlessly with the more traditional grandeur and opulence of an earlier time. Soak up the atmosphere in absolute privacy, with exclusivity assured. This is a very special place for kids who like the outdoor life. Fishing, cycling and walking are all available in the grounds of the castle and children can really dream the dream of living in a fairy tale castle.

Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire is a grand and imposing castle which will impress every child.  The land was gifted to an ancestor of the current owners in 1066 and construction of the first castle began in 1067.  It is a delight for children with curious minds and an interest in history.  Many different activities can be organized in the beautiful grounds such as archery, falconry, cycling, quad biking as well as wonderful woodland walks.  Staying in this amazing castle would be a memory never forgotten.

If you are looking to experience a castle break and live the fairy tale dream with your family, we can help.  LTR has 16 years of experience in creating hand crafted experiences for our highly valued clients who return to us year after year.  We pride ourselves in providing the very best in our field.  Our clients all have different wishes and needs and we love the matchmaking challenge.  Follow us on twitter @LTRbespoke.  Please contact us on info@ltrcastles.com or + 44 (0) 1835 824642.