Castle hotel
Fonab Castle Hotel
Pitlochry, Perthshire
Level 4 Castle-Style MansionLevel 4: a Scottish Baronial mansion built in 1892 as a private house. Some bedrooms are in the historic building, others in separate lodges.
Some rooms inside the walls
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Fonab Castle is a Scottish Baronial castle hotel on the banks of Loch Faskally near Pitlochry, Perthshire. Built in 1892 as a private house, it is a Level 4 castle-style mansion: some rooms sit in the original building, others in newer lodges, so it suits guests who want spa comforts alongside some period character.
Quick facts
- Castle Authenticity Scale
- Level 4: Castle-Style Mansion
- Where you sleep
- Some rooms inside the walls
- Built
- 1892
- Architecture
- Scottish Baronial mansion, designed by Andrew Heiton
- Heritage status
- Category B listed
- Rooms
- 42
- Star rating
- Five-star (Booking.com)
- Guest rating
- 8.5 out of 10 on Booking.com (September 2026)
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome in the Woodland Lodge and Woodland Lodge Superior rooms only, not inside the main castle building, at £30 per dog per evening, with a maximum of two dogs per room. (hotel policy)
- Restaurant
- Yes (hotel website)
- Weddings
- Yes (hotel website)
- Exclusive use
- Yes (hotel website)
- Listed on Booking.com
- Spa, Swimming pool, EV charging point, Restaurant, Family rooms, Parking, Free wifi, Accessible rooms
- Last checked
- September 2026
The story
The story of Fonab Castle Hotel
Fonab Castle stands on the banks of Loch Faskally, on the edge of Pitlochry in Perthshire. The current building was built in 1892 for Lieutenant Colonel George Glas Sandeman to a design by architect Andrew Heiton in the Scottish Baronial style, and it is a Category B listed building. Historic Environment Scotland's listing describes red Dumfriesshire sandstone walls, a circular stair tower with a conical roof, a panelled hall with fluted pilasters, and a billiard room with a hammerbeam-type roof.
During the First World War the house served as a British Red Cross auxiliary hospital, from 1915 to 1918. In 1946 the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board took over the property and renamed it Port-na-Craig House, using it as offices connected to the hydroelectric scheme that created Loch Faskally. It later reopened under its original name as a hotel, and the walled garden, gatepiers and cast-iron gates recorded in the listing still stand on the grounds.
The sleep
Rooms at Fonab Castle Hotel
The hotel's 42 bedrooms are spread across four locations in the grounds, according to Fonab Castle's own website: rooms inside the 1892 house itself, and separate Woodland Lodges closer to the loch. Castle Rooms and Castle Room Superiors occupy the historic building, while Woodland Lodges and Woodland Lodge Superiors sit in a newer development away from it.
If sleeping inside the original Baronial house matters to you, ask for a Castle Room rather than a lodge when you book. Dogs are welcome only in the Woodland Lodge and Woodland Lodge Superior rooms, at £30 per dog per evening, with a maximum of two dogs per room and dog beds and bowls provided on arrival.
The table
Eating at Fonab Castle Hotel
Fonab Castle's 1892 Grill serves food cooked over coal, with views over Loch Faskally, and the hotel also offers afternoon tea. Sandeman's Bar, named after the family that built the house, serves drinks in the older part of the building.
In fine weather, private Pod Dining is available beside the loch, though it must be booked in advance and carries an extra fee. Sunday lunch is served as two or three courses.
The grounds
Around Fonab Castle Hotel
The hotel sits in grounds on the banks of Loch Faskally, a loch created when the River Tummel was dammed as part of the same hydroelectric scheme that once used the house as its offices. Woodland paths run along the river at Port-na-Craig, near a listed suspension bridge that crosses to Pitlochry.
The Woodland Spa occupies part of the grounds, and Fonab Castle is less than a 30-minute walk from the centre of Pitlochry, with Pitlochry railway station about a mile away. The hotel's own website gives the A9 between Edinburgh and Glasgow as the main road route in.
What we'd flag
What we'd flag
- Dogs are only allowed in the Woodland Lodge and Woodland Lodge Superior rooms, not inside the main castle building, at a cost of £30 per dog per evening.
- Bedrooms are split between the 1892 castle building and separate Woodland Lodges, so ask specifically for a Castle Room if sleeping inside the historic house matters to you.
- Standard check-in is from 3pm and check-out at 11am. Earlier check-in or later check-out can usually be arranged, but the hotel's own FAQ page notes that extra fees apply.
Who it's for
Who Fonab Castle Hotel suits
Fonab Castle suits couples and small groups who want spa facilities and loch views alongside some historic character, since only part of the accommodation is in the 1892 building itself. It also works for weddings, corporate meetings and exclusive-use events, which the hotel can host on request. It is less suited to dog owners who specifically want their dog in a castle room, since dogs are restricted to the separate lodges.
Where Fonab Castle Hotel is.
Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.
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Fonab Castle Hotel: questions
Is Fonab Castle a real historic castle?
Fonab Castle is a Category B listed Scottish Baronial mansion built in 1892 for Lieutenant Colonel George Glas Sandeman, designed by architect Andrew Heiton. It was built as a private house rather than a defensive castle, which places it at Level 4 (Castle-Style Mansion) on our authenticity scale.
Are dogs allowed at Fonab Castle?
Dogs are welcome, but only in the Woodland Lodge and Woodland Lodge Superior rooms, not in the main castle building. The hotel charges £30 per dog per evening and allows up to two dogs per room, with dog beds and bowls provided on arrival.
Can you get married at Fonab Castle?
Yes. Fonab Castle can be booked for exclusive use for weddings, corporate retreats and other events, according to the hotel's own website. The hotel sits on the banks of Loch Faskally, which forms part of many wedding photographs, though guests should contact the hotel directly to check dates and costs.
Where are the bedrooms at Fonab Castle?
The 42 bedrooms are split between the original 1892 house and separate Woodland Lodges nearer Loch Faskally. Castle Rooms and Castle Room Superiors are inside the historic Baronial building, while Woodland Lodges are in a newer development elsewhere in the grounds.
Is there parking at Fonab Castle?
Yes. The hotel has a car park at the entrance on a level, tarmac surface, and staff can help with luggage from a front-door drop-off area, according to the hotel's own FAQ page. There is no need to book parking separately.
Sources and checks
Last checked: September 2026. We checked these sources for this page. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- portal.historicenvironment.scot: build date, architect, listing category, description, wartime and hydro-board history
- crerarhotels.com: room count, room locations, dining outlets, location and spa
- crerarhotels.com: dog policy detail
- crerarhotels.com: exclusive use, weddings, parking, check-in