Hogmanay and haggis hunting at Stonefield Castle

Overlooking the picturesque waters of Loch Fyne, Stonefield Castle is the epitome of Scottish elegance. With 60 acres of surrounding woodland grounds, as well as its own beautiful gardens, the baronial manor house is equipped with 32 en suite bedrooms and has towered above the idyllic fishing village of Talbert in the heart of the Kintyre peninsula since 1837.

Those wishing to explore the grounds can do so in the company of Fudge, Stonefield’s resident Chocolate Labrador and one of a huddle of dogs ever present beside the castle’s many fireplaces. Nearby gardens are teeming with exotic shrubs, including one of the UK’s finest collections of Himalayan rhododendrons, and are ever changing thanks to the hotel’s practice of planting new bushes in honour of couples tying the knot at the property.

Proximity to such a famous stretch of water ensures diners will never go hungry for fresh seafood, especially given the head chef’s proclivity for an early morning forage under the loch’s surface.  Speciality dishes at the hotel’s AA Rosette-winning restaurant include scallop scotch eggs and locally caught Tarbert Bouillabaisse, made all the more mouthwatering by the knowledge that the day’s fish is plucked from the water that same day.

It goes without saying that the castle gets pretty lively around the New Year, with Hogmanay celebrations in full swing and castle residents welcoming in the New Year via some rather novel activities.  Chief among these is the “Grand Haggis Hunt”, which requires guests to give chase to a giant haggis (a willing Stonefield team member dresses accordingly) across the castle grounds, wielding horns, pots, pans, and any other ‘fettling’ instruments they can lay their hands on. 

Following the haggis’s capture, the victorious rabble can enjoy a dram back beside the fireplace, along with the traditional Rabbie Burns Toast, naturally.

For more information, visit bespokehotels.com/stonefieldcastle.