The Best Hotels in the United Kingdom: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
"Ayrshire doesn’t get the headlines or rapturous odes that the Highlands do, but this rugged coastal stretch in southwestern Scotland is filled with under-the-radar gems like Glenapp Castle. The property traces its roots to 1870, when it was built for the industrialist James Hunter, and it’s an imposing structure with sandstone battlements, turrets, and towers—made all the more dramatic when approached via the mile-long driveway that cuts through a forest thick with redwoods and firs. Expect stately trappings like formal gardens and croquet lawns, but don’t be surprised by the adventurous spirit that suffuses the place: Activities include archery, clay pigeon shooting, salmon fishing, falconry displays, and foraging. Post-lockdown, the property welcomed a sprawling new penthouse, tucked up in the castle’s eaves, the perfect vantage point from which to take in views of the Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran, and the Mull of Kintyre. The suite is named The Endeavour, after the airplane of a former owner’s daughter, aviatrix Elsie Mackay, who attempted to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic a year after Charles Lindbergh and sadly disappeared somewhere along the way." - Ramsay Short
