Housekeeper's Rooms

81 Customer Reviews

• "Stayed with two friends at this amazing location."

  The apartment looks out onto a lawn edged with trees where pheasants, deer and rabbits appear daily. A perfect location for visiting some beautiful locations, especially if you are an Outlander fan! We had everything we needed and we're very comfortable. Just be aware there are a lot of steps, and no lift .

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★Sep 2024

• "We had a very enjoyable stay."

  The owners were very accommodating with my allergies. Loved the walk in the grounds. You need to heed the warning in the advert for the property about the number of steps. You do need a degree of fitness and journey planning.

  Reviewed by Eric5.0★Sep 2024

• "This was a stay I will never forget."

  The property was lovely and the owners were incredibly kind. It was great to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the tranquility the castle offered. The apartment was spacious and clean and my children loved waking up and looking outside to spot the wildlife roaming about. Like the listing described, there are a lot of stairs to go up. I would highly recommend just packing an overnight bag and not bringing large suitcases.

  Reviewed by Kiley5.0★Sep 2024

• "What a fabulous place to stay."

  For 2 Aussies to stay in this old castle was super special. Beautiful quiet location surrounded by parkland & lawns, with wildlife all around. Great hosts. Spacious rooms and comfy beds. Sheriffhall Park and ride made life simple getting in & out of Edinburgh. We highly recommend Oxenfoord.Thanks.

  Reviewed by Anthony5.0★Aug 2024

• "Really nice apartment in a wonderful setting."

  Great location for getting out and seeing the surrounding area or going into Edinburgh (we did the Sheriffhall Park and Ride which was close and hassle free). We certainly got fitter managing the stairs every day, but that was part of the fun of the stay. The owners were very friendly and accommodating.

  Reviewed by Harry4.4★Aug 2024

• "Beautiful place to stay with outstanding grounds and spectacular views."

  We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us and thank you for choosing us. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Dave5.0★Jul 2024

• "Emphasis should be very explicit when advertising this property."

  The flat is comfortable and well equipped with basic kitchen equipment, although the frying pan needs replacing but access is obtained by climbing a 70 step very steep, uneven spiral staircase. It is not for the faint hearted and for anyone over the age of 65. Certainly anyone with children or a dog would struggle. Carrying luggage up and down was a nightmare! It is important to my mind that these facts are made clear on any advertising material.

  Hello Barry, We are so very sorry that you found the stairs a 'nightmare'. Firstly thank your drawing our attention to the frying pan. A new one has already been bought. It does say in the information given to Sykes that there are four flights of stairs. And yes they are little up and down. but the steps themselves are actually a shallower rise than those of today. It is impossible for them to be uneven as they are made of moulded stone. Most families who come find the whole thing a bit of an adventure. We are of the same mind and in total agreement with you about dogs and small children which is why this is a "no pet" location and "not suitable for children under the age of 6", which is also clearly stated in the wording on the Sykes website. With our best wishes, Michael and Harriet. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Barry2.2★Jun 2024

• "Very relaxing, quiet and tranquil place to stay."

  The owners where totally brilliant. A big thankyou to William for sorting out the TV for us, he was a perfect gentleman as he went out and bought a new TV and set it up for us. The grounds of the castle and the outlook from the window is beautiful.... plus a comfy bed. I would highly recommend the Housekeepers Rooms. Thank you to all our Hosts.

  Reviewed by Angela5.0★Jun 2024

• "We stayed here after seeing Taylor Swift and it was just perfect."

  Comfortable, clean and gloriously peaceful. The grounds are stunning - we just wished we could have stayed longer!

  Reviewed by Joanne5.0★Jun 2024

• "This apartment was spacious and comfortable."

  There are plenty of facilities nearby and lots of interesting points of interest. One of the best things was watching the wildlife from the living room window, especially the deer, pheasants and hares. It is also a bit special to stay in the housekeeper's rooms in a castle!

  Reviewed by Emma5.0★Apr 2024

• "Spectacular location and a great area to visit with Edinburgh 25 minutes away, many castles, historic houses and walks."

  Amazing to be able to see Deer, Hare, Rabbits, Squirrels, Pheasant, Grouse and various birds all around the estate. The facilities are basic inside, but the owners are incredibly welcoming and overall it’s a fantastic experience to stay in such an amazing place.

  Reviewed by Christopher4.4★Mar 2024

• "Had a lovely weekend here, facilities as described."

  The complimentary basket with tea, coffee and biscuits was much appreciated - especially after climbing the stairs. The only downside was the weekend went too quickly, would like to have seen more of the grounds and surrounding area. Will certainly consider booking again - for a little longer next time.

  Reviewed by Claire5.0★Mar 2024

• "Facilities are basic but adequate, rooms were clean with welcome pack of tea biscuits etc."

  Grounds are fabulous with lots of wildlife to spot. Major drawback is the stairs, they are a challenge for anyone who is other than fit, having said that, would still recommend.

  Reviewed by Bob4.4★Mar 2024

• "Thanks for the tip about the park and ride at Newcraighall!"

  Reviewed by Tom4.7★Mar 2024

• "Excellent week at Oxenfoord Castle."

  Apartment warm and cosy and facilities basic but very good. Were prepared for the stairs and I elected the man to carry everything up and down - except me! Only comment - lighting levels very low especially in the sitting room - we don't watch TV when on holiday but we do read a lot and I take time out to paint and draw. Location very handy for train into Edinburgh (10 mins to Park & Ride) and other places of interest. Thanks for a great week.

  Reviewed by Patricia4.7★Nov 2023

• "Great location and quirky apartments."

  Standard of furnishings basic . Amazing castle and grounds.

  Reviewed by Naomi2.8★Aug 2023

• "Excellent location if visiting Edinburgh."

  Very quiet, children loved spotting wildlife from window. Tennis court ideal for the beginner. As a family who enjoy city and country life, it would be hard to beat.

  Reviewed by S3.4★Aug 2023

• "The Housekeeper’s Flat was as described, even the stairs which were a bit of a challenge."

  We enjoyed walking around the grounds which were super. I would recommend this property for anyone who needs to escape busy Edinburgh as the surroundings are peaceful and uplifting. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

  Reviewed by Joanna4.7★Jun 2023

• "We had a lovely stay!"

  You guys couldn't have done anything better :). The castle is unbelievable und everything around it looks like it comes straight out of a fairytale.

  Reviewed by Angelika5.0★May 2023

• "The views from the windows were fantastic."

  There was so much wild life to watch and the grounds were beautiful. The stairs up to he apartment were a challenge but by mid week we were used to them. Everything you need is in the apartment a real home from home. Had an issue with the cold water on our last day but the owner was dealing with it as a burst pipe had caused the problem. The owner came to see us in person which was appreciated with an apology and bottle of champagne

  Reviewed by Maxine5.0★May 2023

• "Fabulous apartment , quiet, warm and very comfortable with wide views over manicured gardens filled with wildlife ."

  We are fussy about cleaning and found this to be one of the best we have stayed in for cleanliness. Its 5 mins by car to Edinbro park and ride ( £5 pp for all Edinbro Busses) or 10 min walk to direct bus to Edinbro and loads of places to explore within a short distance ( the Air and Mining Museums were especially good plus Lennoxlove House) . Even just a week walking locally would be great as loads of wildlife and very pretty countryside. Both owners are very pleasant and checked we were comfortable and had all we needed but otherwise felt like we were left to explore the grounds and enjoy the peace. 100% would visit again, it is amazing.

  Reviewed by Stephen5.0★Apr 2023

• "As a party of four we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the Housekeeper’s Rooms."

  The rooms have everything you need for an enjoyable stay and the location beats all the competition. Yes, you do have stairs to climb, but it is well worth it. And it all adds to the attraction. There is a sense of history and tradition at Oxonfoord which we appreciated. The views are exceptional from the rooms and there is plenty to do and see within a short distance of the castle. The people we met on the estate are pleasant, helpful and very welcoming. We wouldn’t think twice about booking again. Highly recommend it!

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Apr 2023

• "We spent a week staying in the Housekeepers Rooms at Oxenfoord."

  Very clean and had everything you needed for your stay. There's a bit of a climb (70ish stairs) to get to it but nothing too strenuous - honest! Set in beautiful grounds and well worth getting up that little bit earlier and sitting with a cup of tea or coffee to watch the deer, hare and pheasants out and about on their morning business. Would definitely return!

  Reviewed by Leslie5.0★Apr 2023

• "We had a wonderful time in this magnificent castle and would recommend it to anyone!"

  !!! The appartement has everything one needs. Getting warm was a bit of a challenge. Understandable in a marvelous castle like this! Still, it always feels more at home when one is warm enough. The castle, the church, the park around, the deer, the pheasants, it is all fenomenal. We would definitely love to come back....in Summertime

  Reviewed by Petra4.7★Feb 2023

• "A fantastic location in easy reach of all the attractions in Edinburgh but would have been happy to spend all of our time at the castle."

  The apartment had everything we needed and more and the castle and grounds were spectacular. We were lucky enough to spot plenty of wildlife including a fleeting glimpse of some deer. Would be happy to recommend.

  Reviewed by Chris5.0★Feb 2023

• "We had a lovely stay."

  The welcome basket was much appreciated. Loved watching the hare & deer's while munching breakfast/tea. The apartment was clean and had everything we needed. The shower's temperature takes quite a few minutes to settle down, but after that its fine. Perfect location to use the park and ride at New Craighall to explore Edinburgh. Yes there is a lot of steps, but its worth the climb! Thank you for letting us stay. x

  Reviewed by Geraldine3.8★Feb 2023

• "Thanks for a lovely stay!"

  Dear Lydia, We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay at the castle. WE hope you come again. Harriet Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lydia5.0★Oct 2022

• "This is a little gem of a place, set in glorious grounds, and you can sit and look out the huge living room window in the evenings and watch roe deer and rabbits right in front of you."

  We were very comfortable - only problem was the shower, but this was replaced while we were staying so hopefully will all be fine now. It's really well located for visiting Edinburgh and lots of other interesting places, but is very peaceful and quiet for somewhere with such easy access to a major city. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.

  Reviewed by Geoff4.7★Sep 2022

• "Absolutely perfect for my small family."

  Lovely, clean apartment with views of the garden and visiting hare and deer. Great location for Scottish Borders, Edinburgh in 20 mins and Loch Lomond an hour and a half away. Excellent communication from Harriet. Already thinking of booking for next year!

  Reviewed by Dawn5.0★Aug 2022

• "Thank you for our lovely stay at housekeeper's rooms."

  Our children were excited to stay in a castle and loved looking at the wildlife and exploring the gardens. All amenities were provided and it was clean and comforting ,even the stairs didn't put us off. We will be recommending to our friends.

  Reviewed by Lorna5.0★Jul 2022

• "An interesting period property in an excellent location being 10 minutes from the park and ride in Edinburgh."

  It was very quiet with great views of the estate from the windows. We thought that the property would benefit from some attention (broken toilet lid, one light not working in the bathroom, low water pressure) and a deeper clean but overall we enjoyed our stay.

  Reviewed by Alan3.8★Jun 2022

• "Lovely apartment view from the living room window was beautiful we even went out and bought some binoculars to see the wildlife deer hares and birds yes there are a lot of stairs but if I managed them anyone can very central to Edinburgh and the surrounding areas a trip to Roslyn Chapel is a must ."

  The apartment has everything you need beds comfortable and bedding fresh .Apartment is large enough for 4 .The village has 3 eateries all very good would definitely come back to this area and this castle xx

  Reviewed by C4.4★May 2022

• "The setting is excellent but the appartement in my opinion needs some attention."

  Reviewed by David3.1★May 2022

• "My wife and I had a wonderful stay here, we found it comfortable and accomodateing."

  Reviewed by Joel5.0★Jan 2022

• "Lovely property with very kind and friendly owners."

  The grounds are beautiful.

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Dec 2021

• "Excellent base for touring Edinburgh and the surrounding area."

  The apartment has everything you need znd the hosts are very helpful and friendly. It is a truly lovely place to stay.

  Reviewed by Lee5.0★Oct 2021

• "We loved our stay at the Castle and very much hope to return in the future."

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Oct 2021

• "We had a lovely stay at the Housekeeper's Rooms."

  Harriet and Michael were great. Apartment has gorgeous views across the grounds where you can see deer, squirrels and pheasants. Very atmospheric setting and Harriet was kind enough to show us around other parts of the castle - fascinating! Would highly recommend for a holiday stay with a difference! You also get lots of exercise using the stairs

  Reviewed by Graham4.7★Oct 2021

• "The location was amazing, set in beautiful grounds not far from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas."

  Reviewed by Joanna4.7★Sep 2021

• "A great location to stay."

  Views of deer, hare, raptors..and to play tennis. With Edinburgh park and ride close by.

  Reviewed by Stuart4.7★Sep 2021

• "We had a fantastic stay in the Housekeeper’s Rooms in Oxenfoord castle, we were also lucky enough to get a mini tour of the owning family’s living quarters too as we arrived just as they were returning home."

  The castle is in a beautiful setting, and there are some good walks nearby too. Our rooms overlooked the lawns, and as other visitors had noted, deer regularly visited in the early morning and at dusk, we also saw plenty of pheasants and hares in the surrounding area. The rooms were spacious, clean and well equipped. Would definitely stay again. Just be prepared for the stairs! Getting into Edinburgh is easy, they recommended the nearby park and ride, and the train only took about 10 minutes. Plenty of other places to explore too, we spent a day in and around North Berwick, and visited Rosslyn Chapel.

  Reviewed by Alex4.4★Sep 2021

• "This is a beautiful place to stay, with a lovely outlook."

  Unfortunately we experienced noise on the first night, and in the early hours due to clearing up following a wedding event. We did raise this with the owner on our final night, who did then come and explain the situation which had arose to cause this, and she explained this isn’t usually an issue. Other than this, a good place to stay and a nice base for visiting Edinburgh and the local area.

  Reviewed by David4.7★Sep 2021

• "This is a fantastic location for a break."

  Flat was spacious with excellent equipment and facilities, rooms were big, bright and clean. Superb base for seeing Edinburgh and the surrounding area, great hosts and an outstanding location.

  Reviewed by Hywel5.0★Aug 2021

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, it was all we hoped it to be and more."

  The castle is stunning, the photos online for this property are a true reflection of what greets you. We were welcomed by Harriet in person and a few essentials to start off our week in the apartment, thank you. We crammed a lot into our stay, a trip to Royal Yacht Britannia is a must, easy to find and free parking. The Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel, we visited both of these out of business hours. Still worth a visit though, incredible. Culross, again was after closing hours, late afternoon. Beautiful, old cobbled streets and buildings, stunning, right on the Firth of Forth, good parking. Jedburgh and Galashiels were very quiet, not many people around. Headed north to Callander, Loch Lubnaig and Loch Earn. Parked at Newtongrange train station and took a return to Edinburgh, visited the Castle and used the Hop on Hop Off bus to get our bearings around the city. Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott's former home, very interesting and excellent cafe. Our week was topped off by spending time with Harriet and learning more about the castle, its history and current activities. We saw deer, pheasants, a hedgehog ( I'd not seen one for at least 20 years in Kent) and our first ever hare, all within the grounds. Take care driving along the drive! We heard an owl and buzzards. Thank you Harriet and Michael for your hospitality and for giving us the opportunity to share your beautiful castle.

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Jul 2021

• "Fantastic Castle."

  Beautiful Grounds and surrounding area Spacious and clean rooms. everything you need. The Owners friendly and welcoming. Perfect location for exploring Edinburgh and surrounding area. Would recommend museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle and Royal Yacht Britannia as must see and of course the Forth Bridges. Hope to be back soon.

  Reviewed by Christopher5.0★Jul 2021

• "It was nice and peaceful, no traffic noise and lovely wildlife to see from the lounge window."

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Jun 2021

• "We had a wonderful week at Oxenfoord Castle."

  The apartment was clean and had everything we needed and more. The hosts were very friendly and helpful and the surroundings were just perfect.

  Reviewed by Louise5.0★May 2021

• "We had a lovely view of surrounding gardens."

  Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Location was ideal, not too far to travel to different historic places.

  Reviewed by Kevin4.7★Oct 2020

• "The view from the sitting room was amazing!"

  !! We saw numerous pheasants on the lawn daily, along with squirrels, a heron, buzzard, owl & a deer!! Harriet was a fantastic host & quickly resolved the few little "niggles" we came across. It was nice to find a "welcome basket" containing tea, coffee, bread & biscuits. We were also privileged to be given an "unofficial" guided tour of the downstairs rooms of the castle. Davey, the gardner, was friendly & informative & an asset to the property.....always ready to stop for a chat! The property is ideally placed for touting the area as only a short distance from the motorway & train station. We would rebook this property without a seconds thought!!!

  Reviewed by Gordon5.0★Sep 2020

• "Housekeepers room's were fantastic value for money such a lovely place to stay you could quite happily sit and watch the wildlife."

  Micheal and Harriet were excellent hosts including leaving a bottle of champagne for us as it was our honeymoon. Will definitely be be booking the housekeepers room's again

  Reviewed by Andy5.0★Sep 2020

• "A lovely holiday let, in great grounds and with warm hosts."

  A fantastic base - easy for Edinburgh, close to nice beaches, good roads if you want to explore a little further. Yes, there are stairs but they were no trouble for us - even our teen/pre-teen children didn't complain.

  Reviewed by Lech5.0★Aug 2020

• "We had a great time staying at this accommodation owners were friendly and welcoming it was quiet and everything was there that we needed the only downside to the accommodation is the shower was always going from warm to very cold the bath is better."

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★Aug 2020

• "Arrived on the 14th March 2020."

  Harriet the owner spoke to me a few days before she was so lovely . Our stay was enjoyable and Harriot again checked in on us via text to see if we were ok , when the uk government announced the news about this dreadful virus. We felt very safe staying in the apartment we did not meet any of the staff or owners. It was a real shame we could not have a tour of castle but safety comes first, hopefully we will go again during better times. It is a beautiful really big spacious apartment with beautiful grounds. We saw deer, pheasants and hares early morning, the view is quite something over looking the grounds. The beds were very comfy and heating was great and plenty of fluffy white towels. The welcome pack and toiletries were a nice surprise too. The apartment was very clean and lots of cleaning stuff available. During our stay we made the best of it and visited lots of places in the surrounding area. Edinburgh Castle, Craigmiller Castle, Jedburgh Abbey , Mary Queen of Scots visitor centre Jedburgh and Rossyln Chapel which is breathtaking where they filmed the Da Vinci Code all these places were near enough empty during our stay with the current situation. But was still good. I would recommend joining Scottish Heritage we did a family membership and saved a lot of money on entrance fees if you pay by dd you get 10% off so no initial outlay only £7.95 a month. The shop in the village Pathhead was handy and there were two pubs which were open still when we were there serving goid food and staff were very friendly. Just need to mention the stairs up to apartment, we are over 50 and quite fit so we did not find it a problem, infact it added to the fun of our stay. My husband said blimey dont need to go to gym anymore. Thank you The Jamieson family

  Reviewed by Lesley5.0★Mar 2020

• "Great location for exploring Edinburgh."

  Park and ride 10 minutes down the road. Beautiful to wake up to hares and pheasants on the lawn in a morning.

  Reviewed by Dawn5.0★Mar 2020

• "My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the castle."

  We particularly enjoyed our guided tour around the castle which had not been expected. The owners were gracious and welcoming in every respect. Thank you so much. I would certainly recommend a stay at this gorgeous castle.

  Reviewed by Robert5.0★Feb 2020

• "If you want a great `get away place` then this is the place , clean , ..."

  If you want a great `get away place` then this is the place , clean , comfortable , beautiful views , a little pub in walking distance

  Reviewed by Julie4.4★Jan 2020

• "Absolutely stunning place to stay"

  Reviewed by Tammy5.0★Nov 2019

• "Lovely apartment in a unique setting."

  Reviewed by Emily4.7★Oct 2019

• "A beautiful apartment in a gorgeous setting."

  Very comfortable and fully equipped with everything you need to enjoy your stay. Was lovely to sit at the table eating breakfast watching deer, pheasants and hares on the lawn. Nice and restful, perfect for a romantic break. A 20-30 minute walk into the village with a bakery and general store. There is also a regular bus service into Edinburgh if you want to leave the car behind but beware if you want to stay there late and enjoy the nightlife as the last bus back is about 8pm. Would definitely recommend and hope to return one day. Just beware of the long stair climb to reach the apartment. Not for the infirm!

  Reviewed by Monica5.0★Sep 2019

• "Wow! what a holiday!"

  We found the housekeeper rooms to be a very peaceful location and ideal for a relaxing break. The rooms were clean, well equipped and well presented with good wifi and Netflix access on the TV. The grounds were lovely to walk around on an evening. The family were very hospitable and the tour around the rest of the castle was fabulous. We are currently planning our next break to the housekeeper rooms.

  Reviewed by Karen5.0★Aug 2019

• "We have just got back from a wonderful weeks holiday at the Housekeepers rooms in Oxenfoord Castle."

  Me, my Husband and two children aged 8 and 5. The castle is beautiful and the grounds are lovely for evening strolls. We saw loads of wildlife from the apartment including deer, hare’s, squirrel’s and an abundance of birds. The apartment is clean and spacious and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay (although some spare towels would have been handy). There’s lots to do nearby. If you have children I would recommend Vogrie Country Park on a sunny afternoon to enjoy the large adventure play area. The Royal Yacht Britannia was a highlight along with Portabello Beach. The Stair pub/restaurant just down the road was fantastic value for money. My only criticism of the holiday is that we never felt 100% welcome at the castle. We were not greeted upon arrival and saw no one for most of the week which made us feel a bit like intruders. I wish we could have seen inside the main part of the castle, it looked very grand, but when we asked for a little look we were told no and the door the was closed. I would recommend the Housekeepers Rooms for a holiday but note that the castle is primarily set up for weddings and events with a holiday let added as a side business. A little more attention to detail could be afforded to it to make this an exceptional place to stay.

  Reviewed by Hannah5.0★Jul 2019

• "The exquisite and understated landscape with its beautiful trees, wildlife and ruins."

  The accommodation despite the extensive spiral staircase had a dominant view of the frontage with its green lawn encased by trees. Exploring the grounds was genuinely interesting and the hares appeared constantly at the turning of a corner or harvesting grass on the edges. It seemed they had found a refuge ... and they looked confident. The accommodation was spacious, uncluttered and well-equipped (except for the table cover issue which seems a recurrent omission). The prospect through the windows was life-enhancing.

  Reviewed by Erica4.7★Jul 2019

• "This was an amazing experience and much more exciting than the advert had promised!"

  This is a dream of a castle and a very nice and authentic accommodation. You feel like the housekeeper 150 years ago, but with the technical advantages of our time. If you look out of the window you will have a wonderful view on the park. We are very grateful to our host Harriet, who gave us a guided tour through this architectural jewel full of history. I would highly recommend this accommodation to everyone!

  Reviewed by Eike5.0★Jun 2019

• "Joining instructions were good"

  Reviewed by Christine5.0★Jun 2019

• "We highly recommend oxenfoord castle ."

  The apartment is spacious warm and comfortable . We arrived to find a lovely welcome basket and gifts of toiletries on each bed . A lovely touch we thought . The apartment has everything you could possibly need a real home from home . The owners are warm and welcoming . Harriet even gave us a tour of her magnificent home and told us much of its history which we thoroughly enjoyed . It is easy reach of Edinburgh and other places of interest . If you decide to explore the grounds they are lovely . We saw rabbits and deer there . We will definitely be returning to the housekeepers rooms and look forward to another trip there .

  Reviewed by Karen5.0★May 2019

• "The Housekeepers rooms at Oxenfoord Castle was an excellent experience, it was very clean tidy and very roomy and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

  During our stay we got out daily to see some lovely places in the area. The only downside to the place was the 4 floors and 71 steps up a spiral staircase to the rooms which for us as pensioners was quite an experience. It is a shame, but something as simple as allowing the guests to go through front door of the castle and up to the rooms that way would make this a perfect place to stay.

  Reviewed by John5.0★May 2019

• "It was a privilege to be able to stay in this lovely castle."

  The surrounding grounds were beautiful and peaceful. We saw deer, pheasants and hares. There are 70 steps up to the rooms which was fine for us, and good exercise but people should make sure they are capable of the climb, rather than making negative comments afterwards.

  Reviewed by Moira5.0★May 2019

• "Our family of 4, including 2 children had a wonderful holiday at Oxenfoord castle."

  Harriet was a fantastic host; on hand to give tips on were to walk in the area. The apartment was very well equipped with everything you need - the welcome basket was a lovely surprise. The housekeeper's rooms accommodation is spacious and spotlessly clean with beautiful views of the grounds. A peaceful setting with easy access to both the city of Edinburgh which is only 25/ 30 minutes away, as well as many other areas of natural beauty within 20 minutes. We will definitely be returning. Little side note - do not let the stairs put you off; they are not steep and are very wide. We had no problems with them at all - all part of the adventure! Thanks again to Harriet for showing us around the castle and being a fantastic host.

  Reviewed by Victoria5.0★Apr 2019

• "Quiet and relaxing few days in this cosy and warm flat our girls 11 and 14 loved spotting wildlife from the large bay window and wandering the estate."

  A short drive to beautiful coast and supermarkets or to the park and ride then two stops to the heart of Edinburgh. The stairs are an effort with bags but do-able. Nice, friendly owners and staff, thank you Harriet, Micheal and the kind gardener.

  Reviewed by Coralie5.0★Apr 2019

• "Very comfortable apartment in a stunning location with easy access to Edinburgh."

  Many thanks to Davie who showed us around the castle and was so helpful. Also appreciated the milk, bread and biscuits that were provided for our arrival. We really enjoyed our stay on this beautiful tranquil estate and it was amazing value for money. We look forward to returning again soon.

  Reviewed by Maureen4.7★Mar 2019

• "The Housekeeer’s Rooms were much better than expected."

  The pictures don’t do it justice at all. The groundskeeper welcomes us on behalf of the owners (they usually welcome but they were away when we arrived), and he was very helpful and lovely. It was a while ago so unfortunately I have forgotten his name now, but he was a fantastic host to us, gave us loads of historical information, gave us a tour around the castle and offered us a visit round the grounds - it was wet so we decided not to sadly. We were pointed towards local shops and pubs with personal recommendations, given travel information from his experience and everything was tended to like it was of greatest importance. All our verbal feedback was welcomed with open ears as they were still establishing themselves on our visit. This doesn’t mean there was anything wrong, as the whole experience was fantastic. Waking up in the mornings to a lovely warm temporary home to have breakfast looking out the window over the ground was a delight, even when it was miserable outside. Absolutely stunning pristine gardens. When you leave for the day you get a smile and a wave on your way out by the groundskeeper even when he was busy, he always made time for us. The only thing I didn’t like was the sofa being small and uncomfortable, but with the other chairs and the dining table in the bay window, you wouldn’t spend much time on it anyway. There was games, books, leaflets for local tourist areas, and it was super secluded within the grounds so there was no noise or sign of life outside the grounds. However, you’re so close to the local towns and only 20 minutes from Edinburgh central. There was only two of us, but with the spare bedroom you could easily fit in a couple of extras or guests if needed. Everything was clean and the kitchen was supplied with condiments and full crockery set up. I could honestly not recommend this place enough. Will definitely be back again in the future and we look forward to seeing how things have settled. Shame we didn’t meet the family who own the castle, but the grounds keeper was enough I’d say. He was amazing to us and very passionate about his job and serving the family.

  Reviewed by Ryan5.0★Jan 2019

• "Absolutely wonderful with lovely hosts!"

  Reviewed by Claire5.0★Dec 2018

• "Anyone happy to ascend all those stairs will be richly rewarded by the castle and grand estate experience."

  Fabulously peaceful and surrounded by wildlife - difficult to beat.

  Reviewed by Martin4.7★Oct 2018

• "Just had another brilliant week at Oxenfoord Castle."

  The children loved spotting wildlife - deer, pheasants, hares, rabbits and a wide variety of bird life including raptors on the lawn every morning. The owners were very welcoming. This was our second visit, and one which we look forwards to remaking in the future.

  Reviewed by Stewart5.0★Oct 2018

• "We have had a great time at Oxenfoord Castle and did enjoy our stay very much."

  The spacious and comfortable housekeeper's rooms have a great view on the beautiful park; the city of Edinburgh is nearby and some nice hiking trails are in reach.

  Reviewed by Ralph5.0★Sep 2018

• "The castle is situated in a rural setting but close to many places of interest."

  It is very handy for Edinburgh. A very comfortable flat with views over the magnificent grounds. As to the steps, two of the party are 70 and had no problems getting up and down them.

  Reviewed by Anne4.1★Aug 2018

• "A real gem of a find."

  Harriet has thought of everything. A proper castle but with a flat that is made to feel homely and comfortable. Private grounds surround the building and it is the ultimate in quiet. Everything you need is in the flat, and its a proper little adventure staying there. As in the description, wildlife all day and deer in the morning and evening. Lots of steps but its all as listed in the write up. Embrace it, its part of the fun.

  Reviewed by Richard5.0★Jul 2018

• "Stylish to live in a castle!"

  Consider the steps to fourth floor via spiral steps.

  Reviewed by Michael3.8★Jul 2018

• "The accommodation and facilities were fine and accurately described."

  We knew and accepted the four flights of stairs and they were not a problem but you failed to say they were spiral and there was an inadequate hand rail on the inside whereas on spiral stairs the hand rail should be on the outside. The approach to the apartment was disappointing, the stairs down to the door we had to use were dirty still covered with autumn leaves the spiral stair case was grubby and we had to walk past countless rows of outdoor clothing and footwear, there were numerous paper notices about where and where we could no go and boxes in which the recycling materials were to be placed. Finally the top landing to the flat was covered in tatty old linoleum from early 20th century, a bit of carpet and an old rug. It did not spoil our enjoyment of the week but come on Sykes it should be better and especially for the money we were charged. We would not return neither would we recommend Oxenfoord Castle.

  Reviewed by John3.4★May 2018

• "We have had a very nice holiday in 'Housekeepers rooms' in the beautiful castle Oxenfoord!"

  ! It is a beautiful place to stay in a very nice appartment with a beautiful view. The beds are very well. Very quiet, nice garden/park. It is close to the station where you can go to Edinburgh. We will thank Harriet and Michel for their kindness! Carlijn en Albert

  Reviewed by Cmm5.0★May 2018

• "I am writing to express my gratitude for our latest break booked through Sykes."

  We stayed for a week in the Housekeeper’s Rooms at Oxenfoord Castle and it was more than we could have hoped for. When originally booking we thought for the price it would be very basic, and we would surely not be staying in the actual castle itself. What a lovely surprise on arrival to find it more than we could have hoped for. On arrival we were greeted by the very friendly owner, Harriet, who had gone out of her way to provide us with a very personal and special welcome pack, including all the essential items required. The castle and grounds are stunning and we loved seeing the hares, pheasants and deer from the apartment window each day. Harriet also went out of her way to lend our daughter a sledge when it snowed and arranged for us to have a tour of the main castle too. The apartment itself is clean and spacious and being at the top of a castle provides peace that a stay in the city can not offer. It is close to Edinburgh, which makes it a great location to stay for visiting the city, the zoo and even the highlands. We would certainly recommend this accommodation to families, couples and anyone who fancies waking up in the top of a castle. Unfortunately being new accomdation there is not a link on Trip Advisor for me to leave a review there, however if you could share any of it on your page I think it would help others see what good value accommodation this is.

  Reviewed by Julia5.0★Feb 2018

• There are no reviews featuring this term Show all reviews