Established by a dapper industry magnate and Member of Parliament Charles Lindsay Orr Ewing, Dunskey Castle infuses intelligent luxury and historical romance into every second of your spectacular stay. The Castle, completed at the turn of the century, showcases unrivaled technology of its heyday and historical architecture of enormous proportions. Throughout the Castle, physical features will bring alive the patriarch's globetrotting influences and the rich history of Scottish merchants at the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. From the iconic Delft tiles that grace the mantelpiece in many bedrooms and social areas, to the outrageously intricate Baronial plaster ceiling, which is deemed culturally significant by the Scottish government. Every moment at Dunskey promises true immersion into history, authenticity, and a perfectly bespoke luxury that befits the Castle's historical grandeur.
The Baronial Porch pays homage to the Castle's medieval roots by original stoneworks from the 11th Dunskey Castle ruin that still stands dramatically cliffside a few miles down the coast. Its pared-back austerity sharply juxtaposes the entrance foyer, where rich oak panels immediately cocoon guests in warmth and resplendence. Ornate frames of art works original to Castle are displayed throughout the reception rooms, including an ever-growing collection of ceramics, a tribute to Charles Orr Ewing's travels throughout South and East Asia. Inside the Great Hall, the Jacobean fireplace with its impressive curved countenance, bearing the ancient family crest, commands your attention and invites hours of lazing in front of its cracking embers. Offering views of rolling meadows, through the woodlands and as far as the eyes can see to the coast, the Great Hall embodies a quiet magnificence that can sheathe and soothe outward distractions.
In contrast to the stateliness of the Great Hall, the Victorian Drawing Room recalls silk gloves and calligraphed letters. Sink into sumptuous wool and velvet upholstered armchairs, most of which have been painstakingly restored. Stretch out on our buttery leather four-seat Chesterfield and be seduced by the handcrafted Grecian and Scottish vines and foliage that adorn the ceiling. Or play the liveliest round of Chinese Whisper on our leather-and-grommet Windsor conversational settee. There are few places better for escaping into a book than next to the roaring fireplace, beneath the spectacular floor-to-ceiling mantelpiece painted in the softest of dove gray. Operatic callings may be on the cards with the presence of the 19th-century mahogany pearl-inlaid piano, or if karaoke is more your jam, consider treating it as a station for whisky tasting.
Speaking of strong tipples, ensconced yourselves at the United Turkey Red Bar, named after the company founded by the Orr Ewing brothers in 1898, to produce their famously passionate and royal red dye. Entirely bespoke to Dunskey Castle, the bar retains its character from the oak wood paneling salvaged from the attic! While perched on gold and velvet barstools, you'll be charmed by maritime artefacts that came from yachts commissioned and built by Charles Orr Ewing, including gilded prints and photographs. The unusual exposed-brick, multi-tier fireplace will transport you to all the ship's rip-roaring follies on the sea once upon a time. Drink up if the ship's bell from HMS Anson is rung out. Charles' son David was a Naval Captain aboard HMS Anson during World War II.
If it gets too lively at the bar, retreat to the Officer's Corner, a stately homage to the Estate's history and records upon its formation. Here, you'll find an impressive stone-carved fireplace and a fascinating bookcase designed specifically for this quarter. Leather bound and gold embossed volumes of Estate records, crystal ink pots, and mementos from Charles Orr Ewing's globe-circling travels will certainly stir at your own wanderlusts. If that's not quite enough, wool upholstered sofa, throws of sheepskins and velvet armchairs will undoubtedly spur the most intimate parleys.
Wander past the main carpeted stairs and towards the art-deco double-door into the main dining room, one of the most romantic spaces in the Castle. An enchanting chandelier evoking golden liquid sunlights and dappling raindrops hang from the intricate plaster ceiling. On all four walls, a custom-designed Chinoiserie mural in shimmering lavender and copper takes you back to gilded Victoriana. At each end of the dining room, the signature painting of suave Charles Lindsay Orr Ewing gazes cooly upon his happy guests, while the portrait of Lady Augusta Hunter Blair smiles coyly. Both paintings have been heavily influenced by the John Singer Sargent aesthetics.