Kate W
16 August 2019
Although we all love a fairy tale, you rarely get the chance to stay in a magical castle in Scotland. Until now. The Pink Castle is a true fairy tale castle unto its own and is accessible to all who want to experience something unique and different. We are excited to share it with you!
The Pink Castle exterior
This stunning castle in Scotland is set on the west coast in Largs, Ayrshire with outstanding views over the sea. Set on the same grounds as Knock Castle (its even bigger neighbour), this amazing building not only has a fascinating history but an incredible story as to how it became the magical building it is now.
Its quirky design and beautiful aesthetics are down to the talented brain behind ARC Management, and the extraordinary renovation of the castle proves what wonderful architectural talent exists within Scotland.
The setting, near the town of Largs, adds to the beauty of this wonderful castle escape and provides the perfect place for any holiday retreat. The Reverend Mr Gilbert Lang described this stunning destination back in 1791 as:
“A very sequestered spot; and hence, perhaps, the common proverbial saying, ‘Out of Scotland into Largs.’ The air is pure; the water clear and bright; snows generally melt as they fall, seldom lying near the shore.”
The Pink Castle ruin
The history in brief
The Pink Castle is a late 16th-century tower house, however, there has been a building on the site since as early as 1380 when records show it was passed by marriage to the Frasers of Lovat. Since then, it has been passed through several families until landing in the hands of Bruce Walker.
With amazing imagination and incredible vision, Bruce - along with project managers, ARC Management, Architects ARP Lorimer and the fantastic team that ARC put together - has made his dream a reality. Together, they have restored the castle to what it is today and allowed its fascinating personality and character shine through.
The castle today
The interior of the castle does not fall short of perfection. Every little thing has been thought about and considered to make it unique in every way.
The oak ceilings, beams, window frames, windowsills – and everything else that is oak and elm – have been handcrafted from the grounds’ very own oak and elm trees that were blown down in a storm before the construction started. Instead of burning the whole lot, they saved the wood and incorporated it into the structure and design of The Pink Castle.
On the ground floor, there is a lovely open-plan kitchen and dining area. Large windows frame two of the walls of this gorgeous room, letting in plenty of light and offering sunny views for guests while cooking and eating.
As you move to the kitchen, you pass by a rather interesting snug - one of our favourite rooms. No sign of a radio or a TV, just a cosy wee room with a wood burner, offering a peaceful place to sit and have a coffee with a good book.
The colourful ceiling was hand-painted by a local artist and all of the furniture is bespoke, adding to that one-of-a-kind feel the whole building exudes. This is the perfect spot to relax in the evening while your friends do all the cooking!
From the kitchen/dining room, you can ascend the oak spiral staircase which takes you to the main living room…
The Pink Castle living room
This room mirrors the layout of the kitchen/dining room and has two nice seating areas. One takes full advantage of the spectacular window views, and one is more of a cosy corner to snuggle in with the TV on, read the newspaper, or simply to lie down and admire the beautiful artwork which hangs around you.
You will notice that all of the furnishings and fittings are of a luxurious standard so there is no doubt you will feel like you’re in heaven whilst enjoying your holiday here.
The Pink Castle turrets
Take a peek at the twin bedroom with a small shower room built into the walls. The twin bedroom on this floor does not have a WC, but there is a ‘Thunderbox’ right next door in the corridor which only adds to the quirkiness of the castle.
All the bedrooms throughout have these fantastically chunky wooden beds, and although set up as twin rooms, these are zip-linked beds so can be pushed together if you so require. The bed linen is all white crisp Egyptian cotton, and each one has a warm woollen throw which you can drape over for extra warmth.
There is one bedroom on the first floor, a twin bedroom on the second floor, a twin bedroom on the third floor (all accessible from the spiral stone staircase up to the side tower) and a cosy bedroom on the fourth floor with a king-sized bed!
Each room is different, but the same aesthetics run throughout: muted tones mixed with splashes of colour, woollen patchwork ‘wallpaper’, bespoke furniture, brightly painted radiators, oak beds, decorative pillows and animal door handles.
On the second floor, if you can find your way onto the spiral stone staircase you will come to this door…
Now if you are slightly creative, or into puzzles, you will read this handmade stained-glass window as ‘bear all’ …could this mean we have to take our clothes off? We might just be correct!
When you open the door, you’ll step out onto the barmkin wall walkway which leads to a little turret at the end, and in that turret belongs a sauna - a true luxury on any holiday escape.
With a beautiful mosaic ceiling and hemlock and Aspen clad interior, this is an awe-inspiring spot in which to fully relax. How many people can say they have enjoyed a sauna in the turret of a historic castle?
The top tower
On finding your way up to the top floor, where the king-size attic bedroom lies, you will come to a beautiful oak and iron ladder which takes you up to the highest room in the castle. When you climb up the stairs, you will fall upon the coolest cubby-hole ever.
With built-in seating and a central table, this is a fabulous spot to gather in and play a board game with a tasty glass of whisky. Just make sure you remember that you have to get back down that ladder! We were all blown away by this special feature and could have sat up there for hours gazing at the view.
The Pink Castle exterior
Incredible attention to detail has been paid to the interior creating a wonderful space with beautiful décor, but you’ll soon find that the exterior is just as special.
Upon the barmkin wall sits a rather unusual type of gargoyle. Usually, these dark creepy creatures resemble those from your deepest darkest nightmares, but not at Knock Old Castle. The owners have had them specially commissioned and sculpted to represent their own pets. They have a wise old owl, a horse, a goat, Woffle the dog and Ripper the cat!
The imagination and creativity behind the whole design is unbelievable and we feel really lucky to have The Pink Castle on our books. Located in the area of Largs, right on the coast, you have ample opportunities for beach walks, day trips to the Isles of Arran and Bute, adventures to The Trossachs National Park and even the chance to play a spot of golf in Troon or Turnberry. But a day spent in the grounds of this castle is as good as any day out; there are large grassy lawns where you can lie back and soak up the sun, or the chance to let your imagination run free with fairy hunts in the woodlands that surround the castle.
A special thanks to Daniel Wilcox Photography for the amazing photography.
Interested in staying at this magical castle in Scotland? Take a closer look at The Pink Castle and start planning an unforgettable holiday.
If you want to see more stunning holiday retreats, browse our luxury cottages in Scotland and check out our other amazing castles in Scotland too!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.