Join us at Rothes Glen for one of our Ultimate Weekends - Find out more
Travelling to Rothes Glen
The Luxury Castle for Whisky Connoisseurs
No matter how you choose to travel, Rothes Glen promises a seamless and personalised experience tailored to your desires. Arrive refreshed, relaxed, and ready to immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty and refined elegance of our historic estate.
For those seeking the ultimate convenience and thrill, our helicopter transfer is the pinnacle of luxury. Depart directly from your preferred location and soar above the stunning Scottish countryside. As you approach Rothes Glen, the panoramic views will leave you breathless. Land directly on our estate grounds, where your every need will be catered to from the moment you touch down.
Whether you're arriving by private jet, helicopter, or chauffeured car, your adventure begins the moment you depart.
Our Story
Discover the captivating story of Rothes Glen. In this exclusive video, journey through the rich history, charm, and elegance of this iconic estate. Uncover the timeless beauty and heritage that make Rothes Glen truly unique—an intimate narrative brought to life by the man who knows it best.
NARRATED BY DAMIAN RILEY-SMITH
02:30
Meet The Team
Damian Riley-Smith
Managing Director & Owner
Damian has 25 years of experience in publishing and events, founding Whisky Magazine and Whisky Live. His company, Paragraph, oversees the World Whiskies Awards and Whisky Hall of Fame. He and his wife Pippa renovated Rothes Glen, blending luxury design and whisky heritage to create an exceptional Speyside experience for enthusiasts.
Joanna Murdoch
Manager
Born in a castle and raised in Speyside, Joanna's passion for hospitality is evident in every guest interaction. Her love for travel and connecting with guests ensures personalised stays at Rothes Glen. With expertise in event planning, she guarantees smooth, memorable experiences, setting an example for the entire team.
Moira Gilchrist
Commercial Manager
Moira joined Rothes Glen in 2021 with over 25 years of hospitality sales experience, having worked for major hotel groups and the Scottish Hotel Awards. Passionate about sales, she excels at building strong relationships with clients and partners, striving to exceed expectations alongside the professional and dynamic team at the castle.
Alan Robertson
Head Chef
Born and raised in Speyside, Alan combines his love for cooking and whisky to craft thoughtful menus and stunning dishes. Since Rothes Glen opened, he’s created bespoke dining experiences using local ingredients. Alan enjoys engaging with guests, discussing his culinary processes, and sharing his passion for fine dining and Scotch whisky.
Stephen Crossland
General Assistant
With over 25 years of experience in hospitality, brewing, and distilling across Northern Scotland, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and passion. Whether hosting whisky tastings, casino evenings, or snooker coaching, he's always available to offer advice and ensure every guest's stay at Rothes Glen is unique and memorable.
Cydnee Floyd
FOH Assistant and Housekeeper
Born and raised in Speyside, Cydnee lives nearby with her partner and two young children. With experience in the whisky industry and local hospitality before joining the Rothes Glen team, her passion is guest care – getting to know guests, learning new things about them and using this to ensure an excellent stay. Always with an upbeat smile, Cydnee makes the castle feel warm and welcoming, providing guests with a true home-away-from-home experience.
Hazel Kettles
Housekeeper
Originally from Alyth in Perthshire, Hazel has travelled widely across the UK in her role, managing all aspects of life and care for private families, before relocating to Speyside in 2024 to better enjoy her love of the outdoors. Having spent her life caring for others, Hazel brings her expertise, dedication and passion to Rothes Glen. Meticulous in every detail, she ensures Rothes Glen is pristine and visitors are well cared for, enhancing the overall guest experience to one they will never forget.
Mario Carlvaho
Gardener
Originally from Madeira, Mario moved to Speyside in 2007 for a better climate. With a passion for gardening, he combines hard work and knowledge to maintain Rothes Glen’s gardens. Known for his green outfit and meticulous attention to detail, Mario is dedicated to creating and developing the castle’s beautiful outdoor spaces.
Royal Connections
Edward I and Rothes Castle
All that remains of Rothes Castle is one massive, 21m long, 7m high wall. In 1200 William I had commanded Peter de Pollok to “curb the Highlanders' lawlessness” and build the castle to control the valley and River Spey. On 29 July 1296 Edward I of England, the Hammer of the Scots, with 1,000 men was heading south and stayed at Rothes Castle, hosted by Sir Norman Lesly.
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh
Modern day Royal connections with Moray herald from 1934 when Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, joined Gordonstoun School. There he won the Moray badge, which became the inspiration for the now global Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. In 1938 when, with the approach of World War Two, Rothes Glen was commandeered briefly to house the Junior School of Gordonstoun. He then sent all his sons to the same school, from where they occasionally came to the Rothes Glen Hotel for lunch or tea.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
Both Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, and his brother King Charles III, visited as a rare break from the rigours of school life. Isabel Thomson, who worked at the hotel from the 1970s, remembers serving dinner to Prince Edward when he was attending Gordonstoun School. Even Princess Margaret dropped by once, albeit asking the way when lost looking for a friend’s home.
Connections With The Stars
H.H. Asquith, Prime Minister
Among those who took the lease of Rothes Glen at the turn of the 20th century was the statesman and future leader of the UK Liberal Party H.H. Asquith. He became British Prime Minister in 1908 for the following eight years, being replaced in 1916 by David Lloyd George, becoming Earl of Oxford and Asquith in 1925. When installed at Rothes Glen, Asquith instructed that a section of the old sand quarry be turned into a swimming pool, enabling him to take a morning dip in all weathers. This became known as Asquith's Pond.
Sean Connery, Actor
Edinburgh born Connery had a life-long love of the north east of Scotland. He visited often for family, friends, work, golf and charity. James Bond from 1962-71, this was the peak of the Rothes Glen experience as a hotel, and whether visiting highland games such as the Lonach Gathering or playing the local golf courses, he stayed and ate at Rothes Glen when he could.
Sir Jackie Stewart, Racing Star
Nicknamed "the Flying Scot", Sir Jackie, former British racing driver, competed in Formula One from 1965 to 1973.
He won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and at the time of his retirement held the records for most wins (27) and podium finishes (43).
Jolin Tsai
Over the past five years, Rothes Glen has had the privilege of welcoming an array of internationally renowned guests from the worlds of music, design, film, and culture.
Among them is Jolin Tsai, the celebrated Taiwanese singer, songwriter, producer, and actress often referred to as the "Queen of C-Pop." Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Chinese-language popular culture, Jolin is renowned for her innovation, artistic versatility, and contribution to the evolution of contemporary pop music across Asia.
RZA
We have also welcomed RZA, the acclaimed rapper, producer, composer, filmmaker, and founding leader of the legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan.
As one of the most influential producers in modern music, RZA's distinctive sound and creative vision have helped shape the landscape of hip-hop for more than three decades.
Philippe Starck
Another notable guest is Philippe Starck, the world-renowned French designer and architect whose work spans luxury hotels, architecture, furniture, interiors, and product design.
Widely recognised as a pioneer of democratic design, Starck has created thousands of projects across the globe and remains one of the most influential creative minds of his generation.
These distinguished visitors reflect the unique appeal of Rothes Glen.
A Stay to Remember
"Your house and grounds are quite superb, with so many delightfully surprising new rooms and clever touches. You’ve turned the place into a delightful and comfortable, welcoming grand house."
Leonard
Scotland
"We had a delightful two days in your impressive Rothes Glen. Thank you for all your personal involvement and care with the difficult logistics getting us to all activities. Certainly we will spread the word."
Horst
Vietnam
"We were all absolutely blown away by Rothes Glen and will definitely be using you for all our accommodation needs."
Greg
Italy
"Stephen and the rest of the staff were so attentive and made us feel right at home. Despite being warned to not further inflate chef’s ego - the food was spectacular and literally remarkable!"
Olek
United Kingdom
"We simply adored it. The dram on the roof top made it complete."
Hans
The Netherlands
"Family and friends had an amazing time, and the Rothes Glen team were fantastic. So pleased to have this anniversary celebration in a castle and have lovely memories of their weekend."
Kevin White
"The castle is one of the best I’ve visited in Scotland."
Ken
Scotland
“Wow..thats all I can say. An amazing place with amazing staff that compliment the building. They showed nothing but care for us during our stay and were knowledge and attentive.”
Alasdair Duncan
“Rothes Glen is without a doubt one of the most exceptional private castles of this size that I have encountered. Its superb refurbishment has been achieved without compromising the extraordinary period features and detailing - it is truly a quite outstanding property.”
Ruardaigh Ogilvie
"I just wanted to thank you again for a fabulous weekend at Rothes Glen. The castle is absolutely wonderful, the activities were great fun and the food and whiskey, absolutely delicious! We had a fantastic experience and can't thank you all enough for the invitation and everything you did for us."
Katie Gibson
"I would love to relive last weekend all over again and just wanted to say an enormous thankyou to the amazing team at Rothes Glen. From start to finish it was an incredible experience that we loved every minute of and wont forget. The Castle was stunning, activities were immense and the food to die for."
Peter Mitchell
"A quite beautiful place. Perfect luxury retreat or escape. Whisky lovers are in for a unique treat."
Bill Murray