Fernie Castle

I’m a member of the Fernie clan, and it was disheartening to see what’s become of my family home. I went to Fernie Castle hoping to have lunch, but the website and Google Maps listing gave no indication that the hotel was closed. The grounds were overgrown, with weeds several feet tall, which made it look as if it had been shut for a while. Someone mowing the lawn in front of the castle told me a ceiling had fallen through somewhere inside, repairs were pending, and the expected reopening was summer 2026. I can only hope the hotel isn’t turned into another den for illegals. I’ll have to come back next year and see what’s happened. My curiosity didn’t seem welcome. When I asked who owned the castle, I was told only that it was “an overseas company.” There was no further discussion, and after I wondered whether mentioning my connection to the castle might get me some sympathy, I was politely told to jog on.

The gluten free afternoon tea was fabulous, and the scones are easily the best I’ve tasted. Both the sweet and savoury selections impressed us, and the service was super. We enjoyed the historic surroundings, then finished the visit with a gin in the garden and a stroll around the grounds. A perfect Mother’s Day.

If you’re after a modern hotel, this probably isn’t the place. It’s a quirky working three star hotel in a building that’s over 500 years old, and we loved it. Micha the friendly cat, along with chickens and roosters, welcomed us in the driveway. Neil was friendly and helpful throughout our one night stay, doing a bit of everything himself. Room 5 was large, the bed was comfortable, and we slept well. Dinner was nice and breakfast excellent. After dinner, we had a blether and some fine malts in the bar, which used to be the food storage cellar, with its arched roof and flagstone floor. It may not suit everyone, but all the other guests seemed to love it too.

The venue’s in a lovely location, with interesting dining rooms and a bar and seating area that feels like a cave. We went for afternoon tea and enjoyed all the food and Earl Grey. The scones were small, but light and tasty. The cakes looked lovely, though we weren’t given cake forks. Normally I’d just ask, but the staff disappeared after bringing our food. After about 15 minutes, a young guy came in and cleared a table, then another, without checking on the diners. I managed to get his attention and ask for cake forks. He seemed surprised, left the room, then came back with standard dinner forks.