The Boathouse
Dundas Castle Estate, South Queensferry Let your troubles float away in this lochside escape
DUNDAS Castle Estate’s Boathouse sounds like it’s straight out of a fairytale.
A picturesque cottage set on the shores of a loch that it shares with only a few swans and ducks – now, that’s my idea of heaven.
The Boathouse and estate are found less than a mile south of South Queensferry and the Forth bridges.
It would make the perfect place to stay during the Edinburgh Festival in the summer – close enough to access the centre of the capital in half an hour, yet distant enough to truly unwind after a busy day running between shows.
When I stayed at the Boathouse last month, however, it was far from the height of summer. There was frost on the ground on my drive over, and I idly considered whether it was a good idea to stay in a singleglazed boathouse at this time of year.
The loch was almost completely frozen over when I arrived, but any worries I had about being cold during the night were laid to rest as soon as I stepped in the door. It was toasty warm, and the staff had kindly provided an extra heater, a fur throw on the bed, blankets and hot water bottles – just in case!
The Boathouse itself comprises a cosy and well-furnished open-plan bedroom and living area, with dresser, comfy sofa, dining table, and double bed with canopy. The bed is set away from the wall to create a passage behind it to the shower room. This seemed a little strange to me – surely there were better ways to lay the room out? I resisted the urge to rearrange the furniture.
The main room leads out on to the pièce de résistance – the covered veranda. Adorned with fairylights, this balcony is set above the original mooring station, and comes complete with bench, table and chairs from which you can idly watch the world go by.
After unpacking I went for a run to have a nosy at the surrounding estate. Single-track roads lined with rhododendrons lead to a nine-hole golf course, then up to the castle – and what a castle!
Dating from 1416, it is now one of the top five-star exclusive-use venues in Britain. It can be hired for weddings, events and celebrations. I continued on, past an outdoor tennis court and croquet lawn to circle back to my lochside home for the night.
Back inside, an entrance hall separates the living area from the front door and small but well-appointed kitchen. If you don’t fancy the local eateries, you’ll find