The Scottish castle once owned by Billy Connolly you can rent this Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, many people will be looking to book a cosy winter retreat.

Whether it's a cottage in the Scottish Highlands or a charming coastal flat, there are plenty of spots across Scotland to head for a festive holiday. However, if you're looking for that extra bit of luxury, you can rent out an entire castle.

Candacraig, is located in the Highlands, surrounded by the wild beauty of the Cairngorms National Park. Steeped in history, the property was even owned by Billy Connolly at one point.

The castle dates back to the 15th century, when it was owned by Anderson family, who resided there for 10 generations before selling it to Sir Charles Forbes in 1886. In the 19th century, Candacraig was enlarged by architect ‘Tudor Johnny’ Smith, who also worked on Balmoral Castle.

It has since been owned by a number of famous residents, including founder of the Body Shop Anita Roddick. However, its most famous resident is surely Sir Billy Connolly.

The legendary comedian and his wife Pamela Stephenson purchased the castle in 1998 for £590,000, and lived there until 2014. It was sold to current owners Lynne and Marc Lino, whose vision is "to preserve the house and surrounding grounds and properties in the most sustainable method possible".

The opulent dining room seats up to 24 people (Candacraig Castle)

The stunning property can now be rented out by the public for holidays and retreats. With the cold winter weather kicking in, there is no better time to stay in the castle and enjoy its beautiful surroundings.

Candacraig sleeps up to 20 guests in its 12 individually-styled rooms, with each one including a private bathroom. There is also staff on-hand 24 hours per day, including a house manager and butler.

The opulent formal dining room can seat up to 24 guests for dinner, while the drawing room—complete with large open fireplace—can accommodate 24 guests for a buffet or up to 50 guests for drinks reception.

Staying in the castle will make you feel like royalty (Candacraig Castle)

Meanwhile, the games room includes a full-size snooker table. There is also a whisky library, offering a "leading selection of single malts collected over many years".

Those staying at the castle will have the services of its resident house manager, as well as a full housekeeping and catering staff. There is also a private chef to whip up the "finest cuisine, sourced from the freshest ingredients from across Scotland".

The interior of Candacraig has recently been upgraded to include a wood-fired biomass heating system, a new chef’s kitchen, improved connectivity and improved bathrooms with "powerful state-of-the-art" showers.

The gardens of Candacraig are just as stunning as the interior (Candacraig Castle)

Candacraig is nestled in amongst "18 acres of pristine private gardens, lawns and woodland". Outside, there is a large Victorian walled garden, a lochan fed by the celebrated River Don, and an outdoor firepit and barbeque area.

Guests can also enjoy a range of special activities assisted by the in-house events team. These include onsite laser clay shooting, archery, horse riding, whisky tours, and many more.

More images and information can be found here.

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