Dornoch Castle Hotel

The next position on the list of the oldest hotels in Scotland is the Dornoch Castle Hotel. Despite the fact that it only opened as a hotel in 1947, the origins of this beautiful castle are supposed to date back to the late 15th century, if not earlier. Unfortunately, determining a more accurate date is problematic due to the destruction of early records during a siege in 1570. The siege was especially bloody, as it was fought between the Murray and Mackay clans over a long-running dispute that had been sparked by the Earl of Caithness.

Residents of Dornoch were compelled to seek sanctuary in the castle and the 13th-century cathedral right across the street after days of combat. A peace pact was eventually reached, with three members of the Murray clan serving as hostages. They were executed as soon as they were turned over, bringing an end to a long and violent conflict. Drink a dram of whisky or gin from the hotel's on-site Dornoch Distillery if you need a drink to calm your nerves after all that gore.

Location: Castle Street, Dornoch IV25 3SD, Scotland
Phone: +44 1862 810216
Website: dornochcastlehotel.com