Revamp of castle on banks of Loch Ness nears completion
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Having embarked on rewilding his Highland estates, Scotland’s richest man is now spending more than £1 million on creating a new showpiece garden at his castle on the banks of Loch Ness.
It is all part of a multimillion-pound revamp of the 500-acre retreat which tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen plans to turn into Scotland’s "greatest castle hotel" for the super wealthy.
Already there is a list of those wanting to book Aldourie Castle for exclusive use, costing up to more than £60,000 a week.
Guests will relax in gardens so extensive and unique they will have to cross an 82-ft long steel and iron suspension bridge to wander between the formal gardens and a wildlife-rich meadowed oasis.
Head gardener, Elliott Forsyth has worked on the project alongside leading landscape architect, garden designer and writer Tom Stuart-Smith who previously created a new garden at Windsor Castle to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Aldourie is also using no chemical pesticides or fertilisers and eliminating plastic.
Flower beds, a stunning vegetable and fruit walled garden and a unique boathouse restaurant will also await guests at the only inhabited castle on Loch Ness.
Mr Povlsen, Scotland’s largest landowner, bought Aldourie in 2014 for £15 million.
It has been closed for two years while a major revamp is undertaken.
Now it is hoped that Aldourie will take its first guests next year.
A spokesman for Mr Povlsen’s Wildland firm said the whole project involved "several million pounds" of investment, including over £1 million on the garden.
"Anders has been involved all the way with this scheme and it is an extraordinary expense, but in the end it will be a world class experience for guests attracting visitors from all over the globe," he said.
"We already have a list of people wanting to stay. The aim is to make it the finest castle hotel in Scotland in an iconic location.
"As well as wealthy individuals, it will be aimed at the corporate market and also attract weddings and conferences as well as anniversaries and birthday parties.
"The gardens will be a major showpiece. It will be a haven for all kinds of wildlife. A real natural paradise, managed more sustainably to encourage biodiversity."
Related story: Historic Loch Ness boathouses could be brought back into use
