Castle hotel
Dalhousie Castle
Bonnyrigg, Midlothian
Level 5 True CastleLevel 5: a stone keep built around 1450 within later curtain walls, Category A listed. Some rooms are inside the historic castle, others in a separate lodge.
Some rooms inside the walls
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Dalhousie Castle is a Level 5 true castle hotel at Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, close to Edinburgh. Its keep dates from around 1450 and some bedrooms sit inside the historic walls, with others in a separate lodge. It suits couples and wedding parties wanting a genuine castle stay near the city.
Quick facts
- Castle Authenticity Scale
- Level 5: True Castle
- Where you sleep
- Some rooms inside the walls
- Built
- Circa 1450, with a Renaissance remodelling around 1633 and restoration in 1825
- Architecture
- L-plan keep within a curtain wall, remodelled as a castellated mansion
- Heritage status
- Category A listed (LB784)
- Star rating
- Four-star (Booking.com)
- Guest rating
- 8.4 out of 10 on Booking.com (September 2026)
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the Lodge, Castle Rocks, a two-minute walk from the castle. Dogs are not permitted in bedrooms in the main castle or in the restaurant areas. (hotel policy)
- Restaurant
- Yes (hotel website)
- Weddings
- Yes (hotel website)
- Exclusive use
- Yes (hotel website)
- Listed on Booking.com
- Restaurant, Family rooms, Parking, Free wifi
- Last checked
- September 2026
The story
The story of Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle sits above the South Esk river at Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, a few miles south of Edinburgh. Historic Environment Scotland dates the surviving L-plan keep and its curtain wall to around 1450, built in pink sandstone quarried near the river. The castle carries Scotland's highest protection, Category A listing, under reference LB784.
The castle was the seat of the Ramsay family, later Earls of Dalhousie. William, the 2nd Earl of Dalhousie, remodelled the fortified keep into a Renaissance mansion around 1633, and heraldic panels bearing the Ramsay crest survive from this period. The building was Georgianised in the 18th century, then given its present castellated, turreted appearance by the architect William Burn during a restoration in 1825.
A fire destroyed the upper storey in 1867, and the castle was rebuilt. According to the hotel's own history pages, the Ramsay family occupied the site from the 13th century, though the fabric that survives and that guests see today is the keep of around 1450 with later additions, as recorded by Historic Environment Scotland. The property passed through several owners in the 20th century before opening as a hotel in 1972.
The sleep
Rooms at Dalhousie Castle
Bedrooms are split between the historic castle and a separate lodge building called Castle Rocks, a short walk from the main house. Castle rooms include Castle Classic, Castle Deluxe, a feature room built around a vaulted well, a room with a balcony, a four-poster room and a suite, according to the hotel's own room pages.
Lodge rooms, described by the hotel as a more modern alternative, include Lodge Classic, Lodge Deluxe, a Lodge Junior Suite and a Lodge Suite. Guests who want to sleep inside the historic walls should book one of the castle rooms specifically rather than a lodge room.
The table
Eating at Dalhousie Castle
The castle has two restaurants. The Dungeon serves a tasting menu of eight courses from Wednesday to Sunday, is for adults only, and holds two AA rosettes, according to the hotel's own site. The Ramsay restaurant, set in the castle's former ballroom, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with a Scottish grill and seafood menu.
Afternoon tea is also offered at the castle, and the hotel hosts private dining for meetings and events.
The grounds
Around Dalhousie Castle
The castle stands beside the South Esk river at Bonnyrigg, within reach of Edinburgh. Free parking is provided on site for guests and visitors, though vehicles are left at the owner's risk, according to the hotel's FAQ page.
What we'd flag
What we'd flag
- Not all rooms are inside the historic castle. Lodge rooms in the Castle Rocks building are a two-minute walk away, so ask specifically for a castle room if sleeping inside the old walls matters to you.
- Dogs are welcome only in the Lodge, not in the castle bedrooms or restaurant areas.
Who it's for
Who Dalhousie Castle suits
Dalhousie Castle suits couples wanting a genuine historic castle stay within easy reach of Edinburgh, and wedding parties, since the castle offers exclusive-use wedding packages. It is less suited to travellers who specifically want a castle-only stay without any modern lodge rooms nearby, since the property mixes both.
Nearby castles to visit
Where Dalhousie Castle is.
Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.
Also on these lists
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- Restaurant
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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion
Cringletie House
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Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- EV charging
- Restaurant
Dalhousie Castle: questions
Is Dalhousie Castle a real castle?
Yes. Historic Environment Scotland lists the surviving keep and curtain wall as dating from around 1450, and the building is Category A listed, Scotland's highest protection grade for historic buildings.
Can you sleep inside the historic castle at Dalhousie?
Some rooms are inside the historic castle building itself, including four-poster and feature rooms. Other rooms are in a separate lodge, Castle Rocks, a short walk away, so ask for a castle room if that matters to you.
Are dogs allowed at Dalhousie Castle?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the Lodge, Castle Rocks, a two-minute walk from the main castle, but are not permitted in the castle bedrooms or the restaurants, according to the hotel's own policy.
Can you get married at Dalhousie Castle?
Yes. The hotel offers wedding ceremonies and receptions, including an exclusive-use option for the castle.
Is there parking at Dalhousie Castle?
Yes. The hotel says it has plentiful free parking for guests and visitors, though vehicles are left at the owner's risk.
Sources and checks
Last checked: September 2026. We checked these sources for this page. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- portal.historicenvironment.scot: Category A listing, build date circa 1450, 1633 remodelling, 1825 restoration by William Burn, 1867 fire
- dalhousiecastle.co.uk: Ramsay family history, historical events, hotel opening in 1972
- dalhousiecastle.co.uk: dogs policy, restaurants, parking, weddings and exclusive use
- dalhousiecastle.co.uk: room types split between castle and lodge