Scottish Castle by the Sea
By Linzi Buckmaster
Aerial view of Castle Volt (Julian Buckmaster).
Once upon a time there was an enchanting Scottish castle by the sea with its own beach where you could wander for hours and explore coves, rock pools, and islands. You could watch the epic sunrises and sunsets over the bay from curved turret windows or gaze into the gardens where peacocks roamed.
But this is no fairytale—on the coast of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, you really can enjoy this secluded and tranquil escape. An area of natural beauty, the Solway Firth stretches between North West England and South West Scotland. Along the coastline you can find hidden smugglers’ coves, inlets, and tidal islands set against a backdrop of imposing mountains.
Ever since a childhood visit to Lochinch Castle (further west on the Scottish mainland in Stranraer), I've been obsessed with castles. With my other obsession being the sea and beachcombing, what a treat it was to visit Castle Volt. We spend so much time on the shore at home taking photographs, so it was great to come here with my husband Jools who is a keen drone pilot.
Approach to Castle Volt (Linzi Buckmaster).
As you approach by road along the winding country lanes, there are tantalizing glimpses of storybook turrets and crow-stepped roofs through the trees. The mile-long driveway to the castle is a leafy tunneled avenue before you reach your baronial mansion destination.
And what a destination it is. Castle Volt is an imposing building whether you arrive by road or helicopter. It's been renovated to provide the most sumptuous accommodation with luxury furnishings. From the moment you are greeted on the entrance hall staircase by Egyptian Anubis statues flanking a massive stone fireplace, you know you are in for a treat. It's a decadent feast for the eyes.
Interior views of Castle Volt (Linzi Buckmaster).
No dusty museum here though—it’s all super-cool— with décor fit for a queen but in a tongue-in-cheek manner. The bedrooms feature huge four-poster beds, copper bathtubs, and glittering showers. The gold-framed Baroque mirrors, crystal chandeliers, and faux taxidermy everywhere add to the imaginative maximalism-with-a-modern-twist vibe.
Imagine: Neon signs, a jukebox playing songs, and a (realistic!) full-size model of a standing bear wearing a crown. Surreal? Absolutely. The reception rooms exude a stylish grandeur—think Chesterfield sofas, fur throws, and gothic chic. Oh, and of course the bar features an airplane wing and graffiti decor. The dress code is wellies or a ballgown. Or both together.
Castle Volt beach views (Linzi and Julian Buckmaster).
Venture outside into the gardens that stretch down towards the shore across manicured lawns, past woodlands where you may startle a deer who will hop away through the bracken and over the fence or pheasants into sudden flight.
Castle Volt beach views (Linzi and Julian Buckmaster).
Then navigate onto wilder land through reed beds and marshy rushes where heady coconut-scented flower bushes lead to a beach made entirely from cockle shells. This definitely sounds like a dream sequence, right?
Castle Volt beach views (Linzi and Julian Buckmaster).
The only sound is from seabirds—curlews and oystercatchers on the sand flats or a skein of geese passing overhead—and the waves. It's the perfect getaway—almost as though the outside world ceases to exist.
Highland cows (Linzi Buckmaster).
When you leave the castle grounds, the spell is broken. You’re back in the real world, but don’t despair because there is plenty to see and do in the area. Shipwrecks, a historic tower, a harbor, and more beaches are close by. A boat trip to the island maybe? Or just a simple walk to appreciate the scenery. And who can resist a field of Highland cows?
Palnackie Harbour (Linzi Buckmaster).
Just along the lane is Palnackie Harbour. It's an tiny inland working harbor with an eclectic cluster of boats moored there. When we visited there was even a tall ship docked.
Auchencairn Bay (Julian Buckmaster).
Auchencairn Bay has the mysterious Hestan Island, which can be walked to when the tide is favorable or reached by boat—do get a local guide for these options.
Left to right: Hestan Bay (Linzi Buckmaster). Blacary Beach (Linzi Buckmaster). Hestan Island salmon stacks (Linzi Buckmaster).
I stuck to taking photos with a long lens of the island. There is one small home there—imagine having that bird haven and tiny beach to yourself.
Hestan Island shells (Linzi Buckmaster).
Balcary Bay is a sandy beach close by. The fishing stake nets are photogenic leading out to Heston Island. Kirkcudbright is a nearby artistic haven full of galleries.
Dhoon Bay with the wreck of The Monreith (Peter Moulton/Shutterstock.com).
Down on sandy Dhoon Beach at low tide—watch out for the mud—you can see the wrecked seaweed and barnacle-encrusted timber remains of the Monreith, a schooner that on its journey in 1900 from Ireland to Cumbria ran aground seeking shelter during a storm.
Tucked away along a small lane a few minutes from the castle is Orchardton Tower, a large historic ruin of a round tower dating back to 1400s and the only one of its type in Scotland. There are beautiful views from here of the countryside.
We hope to revisit this magical place again one day.
Learn more about hotel stays, weddings, filming, and more at www.castlevolt.com.
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This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 43 July/August 2024.
