Question 1

What is provided during my stay?

Accepted Answer

Basic toiletries, namely shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hand soap, are provided. We also supply you with clean towels, fresh linen for the beds and hair dryers in each room. In the kitchen you will find complimentary tea bags and coffee. There is a coffee machine and we provide a reasonable number of pods for this. There is also dried coffee.

Question 2

How can I charge my electric car?

Accepted Answer

If you have a charging cable we have multiple outdoor sockets you can use to charge your vehicle. We ask for a nominal £5 charging fee if you choose to do this to help cover our electricity cost at a time when prices are very high. The closest charging point is in nearby Insch. The address is as follows- 2 Martin Rd, Insch AB52 6JD

Question 3

I've booked. What do I do now?

Accepted Answer

You don't need to do anything! We will be in touch shortly to confirm the booking.

You can download the welcome pack below.

If you don't hear from us in the next 24 hours, apologies, you can contact us to find out what has happened on 07418085748 or write to enquiries@lickleyhead.com(enquiries@lickleyhead.com)

Question 4

Are there any dangers we should be aware of?

Accepted Answer

Aberdeenshire and the village of Premnay in particular are very safe areas. There haven't been any incidents involving criminal behaviour in the time we have been here and we haven't heard of anything locally either. As relatively few people know the castle is here, the only other people you will see on the property will likely be us or the postman!

There are no dangerous wild animals in Scotland. There aren't any large predators and you are extremely unlikely to encounter anything that might hurt you.

We take fire safety very seriously at the castle. The building has an L1 system installed meaning every single room is fitted with an appropriate detector. This system is well maintained and regularly checked. There is emergency lighting on the stairs that will guide you towards the exits. Please follow our instructions regarding the safe use of fireplaces and electrical equipment.

Question 5

Do you have the internet?

Accepted Answer

The castle has a business broadband connection and we can achieve speeds of 31mbps download and 6.54mbps upload. There are wifi booster discs throughout the castle to ensure that every room gets a signal.

Question 6

Can I bring my dog?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pets are welcome at Lickleyhead Castle and in the gardener's cottage. There is a fee of £20 per pet per stay to help cover the extra cleaning costs associated with bringing a furry friend.

Question 7

Where can I buy groceries?

Accepted Answer

Kellockbank is a local shop which sells some dried food.
https://onlinestore.kellockbank.com/collections/food-hall

Kemnay Farm Shop has good selection of local produce. 
https://www.facebook.com/kemnayfarmshop/

There is a small supermarket, Co-op, in Insch (3 miles away). The next nearest are in Inverurie(10 miles), which has a good selection of places to shop including Tesco, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer's, Aldi and Lidl. We would suggest for your convenience that you organise a delivery to arrive shortly after you yourselves. Most guests choose Tesco for deliveries.

Question 8

Can we have catering?

Accepted Answer

We don't provide this service. There is nothing stopping you from hiring a catering company yourselves however. Please note that we as the venue ask for a small fee (£30) if you bring in 3rd party caterers due to the administrative burden of food safety requirements and to provide facilities for the caterers beyond those necessary for self-catering (This does not apply to weddings). Catering at Lickleyhead Castle is only suitable for whole castle or east wing guests. The west wing does not have a formal dining room and we do not allow external caterers into the gardener's cottage.

If you bring in outside guests for a meal there is a charge of £20 per guest beyond the maximum capacity of the unit(s) you have booked. The east wing has a maximum capacity of 4, the whole castle has a maximum capacity of 16 and the castle + cottage together have a capacity of 22. So, for example, an east wing booking wishing to have a meal for 15 people would pay £20x11=£220 as it would be 11 people more than the maximum occupancy of this unit. A whole castle booking wishing to have a meal for 18 people would pay £40 and so on. We have these charges because we need to move furniture around for extra people, we need to put out extra place settings and also because guests book our units first and foremost as accommodation, not as an event space.

3rd party catering and other charges do not apply to weddings (this is already costed in for this purpose).

Below is a list of local catering companies and private chefs.

1. Harry Fraser Catering (the biggest catering company in the area).
https://www.harryfraser.com/ (https://www.harryfraser.com/)

2. Hudsons Catering
https://www.hudsonscatering.co.uk/ (https://www.hudsonscatering.co.uk/)

3. Country Flavours of Alford 
https://www.countryflavours.co.uk/ (https://www.countryflavours.co.uk/)

4. Entier Catering Scotland
https://www.entier-services.com/ (https://www.entier-services.com/)

5. Val Morrison Catering and Party Design
 valmorrison36y@yahoo.co.uk

6. Kate's Bespoke Catering
https://katesbespokecatering.com/ (https://katesbespokecatering.com/)

7. Giuseppe Manzoli 
https://giuseppemanzoli-chef.com/ (https://giuseppemanzoli-chef.com/)
Giuseppe is a hard working Italian chef who has cooked here before. There  are actually videos of him preparing food here at Lickleyhead Castle on  Youtube (see below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ozSaGRquFo

Question 9

How can I make coffee?

Accepted Answer

We have a grinder and a barista style espresso coffee machine. We also have several cafetieres (French press) and a dolce gusto machine which takes pods. We supply a limited number of pods to get you started. We do also supply some ground coffee, instant coffee and tea but guests may wish to bring their own preferred brand. We would request that equipment is cleaned after use.

Question 10

Is it cold inside during the winter?

Accepted Answer

We have made extensive efforts to ensure the building is kept both warm and energy efficient during colder spells. 
The castle has central heating which can be adjusted to suit your needs, powered by a new oil fed boiler. In the kitchen, the Aga is always on, meaning this room never gets cold. The great hall has an open fire, which once lit, will warm the room nicely. The living room has a wood burning stove.  We supply as much wood as you need for these two fires. Each bedroom has its own plug in or wall mounted electric heater, which individual guests can use as much as they want if they still aren't satisfied with the castle heating. Blankets have been placed in the living areas for when the room has yet to heat up properly.
To try and cut down on energy bills and to stay green we have taken steps to cut down on heat loss. The loft spaces have all been insulated with modern thermal wool to stop heat being lost upwards. Secondary glazing has been attached with magnets in front of most of the windows in the castle, ensuring heat is not lost through the glass while also maintaining the historical character of the building. Breathable panels have been put in front of disused fireplaces in various places.  Draft excluders have been placed at the bottom of doors. A chimney umbrella is used to prevent heat going up the great hall flue while it is not in use. 
We encourage guests to make good use of curtains and shutters during their stay. These traditional technologies really can make a difference in preventing drafts.
If you have any concerns regarding the warmth of the castle, please get in touch. We will be happy to answer any further questions you might have.

Question 11

Where can we eat out?

Accepted Answer

The nearest pub is the Station Hotel in Insch which is about 3 miles away. The Haughton Arms Hotel in Alford (15 minute drive) is well regarded. For something extra special, The Dog Tap in Ellon serves Brew Dog's world famous beer, while Rothesay Rooms in Ballater offers Michelin standard cuisine.

There are takeaway places in nearby Insch. Rainbow is a Chinese takeaway which is better than average. Fast Frys is  a fish and chip shop. There's also an Indian restaurant called Cafe  Mint based out of the Commercial pub.

Question 12

Can I see the layout of the castle?

Accepted Answer

Yes, please see the layout below.
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2317a7_5d33779d61e847148e2e3884930f759e~mv2.jpg

Question 13

What does each room have?

Accepted Answer

This table shows the location of beds in the castle. The red shaded numbers do not indicate extra capacity but demonstrate flexibility with sleeping arrangements. We do not allow more than 16 adults to sleep in the castle at any one time.

Question 14

What does the games room contain?

Accepted Answer

The games room has a pool table which is convertible into a ping pong table. Guests can use the dressing up clothes and costumes. There is also a darts board, numerous board games and some children's toys. Please note that under 18's are not allowed to play darts.

Question 15

What laundry/dish-washing facilities are there?

Accepted Answer

There is a washing machine in the pantry available to guests in the whole castle or the west wing. The gardener's cottage has its own washing machine. The east wing does not have any laundry facilities. A washing line in the barbeque area can be used for drying clothes when the weather is good. Unfortunately, we do not currently have a tumble dryer for the use of guests.
The castle has dishwashers. 2 are available to guests staying in either the west wing or the whole castle. There is 1 dishwasher available to guests staying in the east wing. The gardener's cottage also has a dishwasher.

Question 16

What are the grounds of Lickleyhead Castle like?

Accepted Answer

A long woodland driveway shelters the castle from sight or sound of the already sleepy village of Auchleven. The only sounds you will hear as you stand in the garden are the tweets of varied bird species, running water in the two burns or the sheep in the distant fields. Butterflies, such as red admirals, are seen in great abundance during the warmer months. Before the sun goes down, make sure to pick fruit such as wild raspberries or plums for your dessert! Evening brings out the pipistrelles and the barn owls. Unlike in western parts of Scotland, biting insects are not generally a problem and it is comfortable to sit outside in the barbecue area over a drink. There you can enjoy the night sky in its full glory; light pollution free. The colder months bring their own delights. The changing colour of the leaves is very attractive. In winter, red deer come down from the higher slopes of Bennachie to feast upon the exposed green grass in view of the ruined arch.
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2317a7_886d9ae4cc284a48ada49849cb420f14~mv2.png

Question 17

What can I do outside in the grounds?

Accepted Answer

The 11 acre estate is yours to explore. You can climb trees; wander the rose garden or the walled garden. Why not wade in the fore burn down to the Gadie? There is also a selection of outdoor games to play. You can use the barbeque at your leisure. 
You can also book paid activities to do in the grounds such as archery and the mini-highland games.

Frequently Asked Questions