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Minard Castle

Stay in style in our 19th-century Scottish castle beside Loch Fyne. The comfortable bedrooms have colour television, facilities for making tea and coffee, and ensuite bathrooms. Enjoy breakfast in the Morning Room and relax in the Drawing Room. Stroll in the grounds, walk by the loch, explore the woods, or use Minard Castle as your base for touring this scenic part of Argyll with its gardens, castles, archaeological sites and visitor attractions.

Enjoy the luxury of 4-star bed & breakfast accommodation in the castle while you explore Argyll or just take a quiet break. We offer a warm welcome in our family home.

We have a ground floor bedroom suitable for disabled guests, and the breakfast room is on the same floor. There are two steps at the front door but we have removable ramps, and we are happy to provide assistance if needed.

Bed & Breakfast prices are £65 - £75 per person per night for a twin room room, double room or family room. Children under ten years old are charged at half price.

Please note that there is no smoking allowed in the house. We do not provide evening meals but they are available within 5 miles. We regret to say that we do not accept pets in the house.

Minard Castle Bed & Breakfast is open from the beginning of April (or Easter if it is early) until the end of October. Please note that Minard Castle Bed & Breakfast is normally closed during the winter.

Visitor Attractions

This beautiful part of Argyll is famous for its gardens specialising in exotic azaleas and rhododendrons.

It offers forest walks, cycle trails, bird watching, riding, good fishing, and many places of historical and archaeological interest.

Minard Castle stands in its own grounds in beautiful countryside on the north-western shore of Loch Fyne, three-quarters of a mile (1km) from the A83 Inveraray to Lochgilphead road. It is about thirteen miles (20km) south-west of Inveraray - an ancient stronghold of the Campbell Clan - which is noted for its castle and historic jail. Other local attractions include the Auchindrain Folk Museum and the famous Crarae Garden.

Minard is also well placed for touring this interesting area. Within easy travelling distance are the Crinan Canal and the prehistoric sites around Kilmartin.

To the south is the Kintyre peninsular and Campbeltown. To the north are Loch Awe, the spectacular Pass of Brander, the tunnels of the Cruachan hydro-electric scheme, and Oban with its shops, distillery and ferries to many of the islands. Further north are Glencoe, Fort William and Loch Ness.

Very Brief History of Minard Castle

Built by the Campbells of Knockbuie in the eighteenth century, Knockbuie House was renamed Minard Castle in the mid-nineteenth century, when a new castellated front was added, designed by J.T. Rochead whose works include the Wallace Monument near Stirling.

From 1873 until the nineteen forties it belonged to the Lloyd family, who were related to the former Campbell owners. The estate was then sold to the Forestry Commission, who sold the house to the Holiday Fellowship. Later it became a hotel for a few years before it was bought by the present owner's father in 1974. Since 1997 Minard Castle has been open as a bed & breakfast where guests are invited to share the peace and beauty of this idyllic spot beside Loch Fyne.

Shopping and Restaurants

The village shop is a mile and a half (2km) away, and there is a wide choice of shops at Lochgilphead.

There are two bars with restaurants, and a café, all within five miles. There are many good restaurants in the wider area. Oban, which is about fifty-five miles away, is the nearest large town, and is a very good centre for shopping. Glasgow is about 75 miles.