There are hotels you visit for a night away, and then there are places that feel like an experience from the moment you arrive. Crossbasket Castle, a magnificent 15th-century castle on the outskirts of Glasgow, most definitely falls into the latter.
We left a very hot and sunny Didsbury and drove north to an extremely wet – but undeniably beautiful – Scotland. It’s not often we leave Manchester in glorious sunshine to find rain elsewhere, and the weather was one of the first things the reception team mentioned when we arrived. We assured them that, coming from Manchester, we practically have webbed feet. How could we possibly complain?
And really, when your destination looks like this, who cares about a little rain?
Crossbasket is wrapped in centuries of history. The land was acquired by Alexander Lindsay in 1440, with the original tower house built as part of the Lindsay family estate. Over the centuries it passed through the hands of numerous owners, including the famous inventor and raincoat manufacturer Charles Macintosh, who patented his waterproof fabric during his ownership of Crossbasket. Rather appropriately, given the weather during our visit.
By the early 2000s, however, this beautiful building had fallen into serious disrepair and was eventually placed on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register. Then, in 2011, entrepreneurs and philanthropists Alison and Steve Timoney bought the property and began an extraordinary rescue mission.
Over five years and with an investment of more than £10 million, Crossbasket was painstakingly restored, preserving its historic character while transforming it into a luxurious five-star retreat. It finally reopened in 2016. Quite how they managed to take a near-ruin and create something so beautiful in just five years is beyond me.
The story didn’t end with the castle. In 2025, the estate welcomed a new 40-bedroom Estate Hotel and two distinctive dining concepts, bringing a completely different dimension to Crossbasket. And this is where we stayed. Our Suite in the Estate Hotel was, quite frankly, somewhere I could happily live for the rest of my days.
While the castle celebrates its history, the Estate Hotel is glamorous, contemporary and Art Deco inspired. Think bold geometry, sculptural lighting, beautiful tactile fabrics and a sense of understated decadence. It’s a striking contrast to the heritage of the castle, yet somehow the two work beautifully together.
Our spacious suite overlooked the leafy estate gardens and had not one, but two private balconies. Sadly, the rain meant sitting outside with a morning coffee wasn’t going to happen, but the views were lovely, nonetheless.
Inside, there was an enormous Emperor bed and, rather indulgently, both a bathroom and a separate shower room. Bath or shower? No decisions necessary – you get both. Add all the little luxuries you expect from a five-star hotel, and it became very easy to settle in.
Food is a major part of the Crossbasket experience, with menus across the estate overseen by legendary Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.
Breakfast is served at Foveran’s, the Estate Hotel’s beautiful palm court-style restaurant. Flooded with light and surrounded by greenery, it feels fresh and relaxed, with a menu celebrating Scottish produce and seasonal ingredients.
We began virtuously with a Green Reviver health drink before undoing some of that good work with breakfast. I chose Loch Fyne smoked kippers, while Salim went for the Vegetarian Breakfast Grill – and there was certainly nothing miniature about it. Grilled tomato, chestnut mushrooms, potato scones, vegetarian haggis, avocado, savoury granola and free-range eggs, any way you like, made for a very substantial start to the day.
Suitably fuelled, we jumped on the train into Glasgow for a wander before returning to Crossbasket later that afternoon. And that’s when the weekend stepped up a gear. We headed to the bar for “one or two” cocktails before changing for dinner at Trocadero’s.
I hadn’t investigated the restaurant too closely beforehand, so I genuinely wasn’t expecting what was waiting behind the velvet curtain.
Inspired by the glamour and decadence of the Roaring Twenties, Trocadero’s isn’t simply somewhere to have dinner. It’s a night out.
There’s live music, dancing, cocktails, fabulous interiors and that lovely feeling that something might happen as the evening unfolds. It feels glamorous, and, as the night gets going, the atmosphere becomes infectious and, the food more than lives up to the surroundings.
We started with hand-dived Orkney scallop with charred corn succotash, chorizo jam and brown butter vinaigrette, alongside chicken confit – a chicken and pistachio ballotine with pain d’épice crumb, walnut feuillantine and rhubarb.
Then came lemon sole meunière, served on the bone with lemon, capers, brown shrimp and Scottish dulse seaweed butter, and a 200g fillet of prime Speyside beef. As usual, we shared.
Sides of triple-cooked chips with malt vinegar salt and honey-glazed carrots with puffed rice and crispy kale completed the feast, along with peppercorn sauce for the steak.
This wasn’t simply dinner; it felt like a proper indulgent treat.
And, in a rare turn of events, we skipped dessert. Not because we weren’t tempted, but because we were pleasantly full and the evening was beginning to move from dinner into entertainment.
As the music picked up, diners left their tables for the dance floor and even some of the staff joined in, which was great fun to see. Trocadero’s has managed to capture something many restaurants try, but few achieve. Dinner that becomes a whole evening.
I could easily imagine returning with a group of friends or booking it months ahead as one of those special dates in the diary to look forward to.
Later, we headed back into the original castle for a nightcap, and the change in atmosphere couldn’t have been more striking.
Where the Estate Hotel and Trocadero’s are contemporary and glamorous, the castle is wonderfully hushed and historic. There’s a gentle clink of glasses, beautiful period surroundings and the feeling that those centuries of history are still very much present.
During the day, guests can also enjoy afternoon tea in the castle, with exquisite patisserie, sandwiches and a selection of teas. We simply didn’t have enough time to fit it in on this visit – which, as far as I’m concerned, is a very good reason to return.
And There’s More to Come… Crossbasket isn’t standing still. This autumn brings another chapter for the estate with the arrival of Four Angels Spa, named after the waterfall, directly below the castle, alongside Crossbasket Cabins. Twelve luxurious timber cabins will sit along the riverbank, creating private retreats for up to four guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows will frame woodland and river views, while freestanding bathtubs make the most of the scenery outside. The idea is pure escapism: somewhere to slow down, switch off and disappear into the landscape for a while.
And I suspect they’ll be rather special.
What really stayed with us about Crossbasket, though, was the people. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, the team couldn’t have done more for us. Service was warm, polished and attentive without ever becoming intrusive – exactly how five-star hospitality should feel.
Crossbasket also has that rare ability to offer completely different experiences within one estate. You can retreat into the history and tranquillity of a 15th-century castle, stay in the contemporary luxury of the Estate Hotel, dress up for dinner and dancing at Trocadero’s, or simply disappear into the grounds.
We arrived expecting a lovely hotel stay and left feeling we’d enjoyed a proper weekend away. And with the new spa and riverside cabins joining the estate, I have a feeling our first visit to Crossbasket Castle won’t be our last.
There are also festive packages available, with upgrades including food and drink experiences, and the Trocadero Showgirls. A castle, cocktails, fabulous food, dancing and an Emperor-sized bed to fall into at the end of the night? Now that is our idea of pure escapism.
Crossbasket Castle Hotel, Spa & Restaurant
Stoneymeadow Road / Glasgow G72 9UE / info@crossbasketcastle.com
By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar
