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Viewing Scottish Castles: Romantic Escapes far from Crowded AirportsScottish Castles: Romantic Escapes far from Crowded Airports
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Whether you live in Great Britain or not, this article will be of interest to anyone seeking a romantic escape. Scottish castles are becoming increasingly popular for couples. Many now have en-suite bathrooms, satellite TV, and other modern comforts. By Andrew Loyd Editor's Note: Whether you live in Great Britain or not, this article will be of interest to anyone seeking a romantic escape off the beaten path. Scottish castles are becoming increasingly popular for couples and group getaways. A few years ago, everyone wanted to travel overseas as much as possible - but now our major airports are so crowded that a lot of people are changing their minds. Why spend endless hours fighting through the masses and waiting on the tarmac, when Britain itself has so much to offer? Combine this with concerns for global warming and some pretty nice summers, and it now makes increasing sense to holiday at home. However, you need to do something exciting for your annual summer holiday, so why not rent a Scottish castle and get away from it all. This is becoming increasingly popular with English families, keen to experience something different within a few hours' drive from home. There are now some very luxurious properties available - and these can be taken by the week, complete with a full team of staff and thousands of acres. There is a majesty to rural Scotland that has long disappeared in the south of England. Primarily it's the space available, but guests also comment on the gentle nature of the people, the quietness, and of course - the beauty. Base yourselves at a lovely ancestral home, complete with spiral staircases, turrets, and lots of wood paneling, and settle in for a week of sightseeing, golf, long walks, and fishing. There are many other fun activities as well, including falconry, quad biking, gorge walking, clay pigeon shooting, and horseback riding. The houses and castles on offer now have en-suite bathrooms, satellite TV, broadband Internet, modern kitchens, and most other modern day comforts. They are no longer cold and draughty, and guests can now relax in huge comfort. However if they want to rough it, then the great outdoors beckons - and Scotland has some incredible wilderness areas, where guests can roam for hours, barely meeting a soul. It is this mix of rural and urban that makes the country so attractive and such a great destination. After the last war, many of the wonderful old homes had been so damaged by the troops, schools, and hospitals billeted in them, that they were quickly pulled down. Indeed so much so, that during the 60's, they were destroying a large house in Scotland at a rate of about one a week. Those that survived (and their owners) faced a grim future as successive governments maintained a very high rate of taxation; essential materials were extremely hard to get, and wage costs spiraled. Amazingly, many homes did survive - and a huge number have been massively restored over the last decade or so. It is a testament to the determination of the families that own these homes that this has been possible. Where some gave up, fortunately a lot of new owners have emerged to continue the struggle. With agriculture, fishing, and forestry in decline, it is a huge commitment for even wealthy owners to maintain these huge properties - but it gives great pleasure to their families and now in many cases to paying guests. To add to the estates' revenues, many homes can now be taken fully staffed, and guests get to experience castle life. Sitting in these homes, soaking in the history, and learning about how they have survived is fun in itself; but combine this with a whole mass of activities, and you have yourself the ingredients for a wonderful vacation. Most of the properties are very flexible about arrival and departure times, and guests can very much control their own timings. So give the airports a rest and experience something a little closer to home! About the Author: Andrew Loyd is a director of Loyd and Townsend-Rose Ltd, who specialize in Scottish castles for hire - ideal for luxury vacations, family reunions, corporate events, or as venues for filming and sporting activities. Article Source: Adult Escapes - http://www.AdultEscapes.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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