"You rang mi Lord Iain"

Yes, I am a fanciful Little Lord Fauntleroy, and as a child, I would chime the old servants' bells in my grandmother's house, which, down below in the depths of her house, a minute red and white striped flag would drop within a small window to indicate my whereabouts followed by a bell. Naturally, no one came; those days were thankfully gone, although part of me still likes the idea of being waited on - that's why I love hotels so much. 

Growing up alongside the likes of 'Upstairs, Downstairs' (Das Haus am Eaton Place, Arriba Y Abajo, or in French, Maîtres et Valets and I think a version in the US, called Beacon Hill), I grew acquainted with Lady Marjorie Bellamy, Lady Persephone Towyn, Lord Richard Pemberton and the Viscount Bellamy of Haversham. 

Whether it be the sight of Downton Abbey, the castles of König Ludwig II that inspired Disney or Castle de Trujillo in Spain used in Game of Thrones, their magical architecture besots me, and despite their often foreboding fortress accents, there exists a romance, the fairytale that the Victorians and Baroque cousins in Europe knew how to embellish in Gothic proportions. Built to impress, these bastions of stone are landmarks usually occupying the best piece of land. 

So imagine my eyes and excitement as I caught sight of this week's newsletter darling perched on the shoreline of Scotland's most famous lake, Loch Ness. Painted in a seductive apricot-peachy tone of orange, this castelletto in the Highlands is breathtakingly gorgeous. Just the right size, fully staffed, not too enormous nor intimidating, with just 12 suites, a coupling of stately sized halls, a separate events hall and whisky lounge, library, etc, and more than 500 acres (200 hectares) of private land that escorts a private boathouse. 

Host your own Highland games, get married in cinematic beauty, launch your new products, find that incognito escapism away from prying eyes or gather the family clan. Like a turreted Grande Dame hotel, the castle is perfect for up to 24 guests in the main house with a further four fabulous cottages (12 bedrooms) on the estate for any spillovers. Stacked with over 400 years of history, the restored castle comes without aristo pretence and a stuffy ambience – instead, it is a place of calm wrapped in landscaped gardens and doorstep nature; think of a much cuter miniature of Queen Victoria's Balmoral pad, without the pomp.

I'm sure I would be just as happy as Hudson or Mrs Bridges, perhaps not so much a poor little Ruby (the scullery maid), but I do hanker for the upstairs glamour as Viscount Iain.

Hugs

Iain & Co.