Your frequently asked questions answered

We have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions which will help you with the early stages of planning. The list can be see further down this page. Please do get in touch though if you have any further questions and we will be delighted to help you.

General FAQs

What is the history of Cluny Castle? 
Dating back to the 16th century, Cluny Castle has been lived in, cared for, and passed down through the same family for over 400 years. What began as a fortified tower house that stood on the lands of Cluny as early as the 14th century gradually evolved into the romantic castellated mansion seen today. Originally built in 1604, the castle underwent significant alterations over the centuries, most notably those made in 1820 by Aberdeen architect John Smith, transforming the castle into what we know today. This historic treasure has been lovingly cared for and renovated using traditional methods and materials, ensuring its historic character, period features and exceptional quality will endure many generations to come. The castle sits within 300 acres of stunning gardens and woodland, providing a tranquil escape surrounded by the breathtaking Aberdeenshire countryside.
Where is Cluny Castle located? 
Cluny Castle is situated in tranquil Aberdeenshire countryside and hidden from view by over 300 acres of beautiful, landscaped parkland. The address is Cluny Castle, Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, AB51 7RT. Google maps will bring you to the front door, although please do be aware that sat nav usually takes you in through the back entrance to the castle! A map can be viewed at the foot of this page.
How do I get to Cluny Castle?
A world apart, yet so easy to get to, it is perfectly located; only 35 minutes from the Aberdeen city centre, 25 minutes from Aberdeen airport and within easy access to all major Scottish road and rail networks. 

By Road: 30 mins from Aberdeen city centre / 3 hours drive from Edinburgh & Glasgow / 20 mins from Aberdeen Airport 

By Train: 3 hours from Edinburgh or Glasgow / 7 hours from London

By Air: 1hr 20 mins from London / Direct flights to several UK & European destinations available. For further information about airport destinations from Aberdeen airport: www.aberdeenairport.com/flight-information/destinations

By Helicopter: 10 mins from Aberdeen / 1 hour from Edinburgh & Glasgow, dedicated helicopter landing site on front lawns 
Do you have parking on site for guests?
Should you wish to drive yourself to Cluny Castle, on-site parking is available for guests, with arrangements confirmed in advance depending on the nature and size of the event. 
Do you have a helicopter landing site? 
Yes, the front lawns have been approved as a suitable helicopter landing site for any special helicopter transfers.
Do you have Wi-Fi?
We always recommend that you tuck away the technology when you arrive at Cluny so that you can make the most of your time spent at the castle with family and friends. We do however understand that modern life requires connectivity, so we are happy to provide guests with Wi-Fi (please note that coverage is not available in some locations of the castle).
Are dogs allowed?
We love dogs at Cluny and are very dog friendly. The only request that we have is that their access is restricted to the Chapel and the West Wing only and they are not permitted within the main public rooms or bedrooms in the castle itself. Please advise in advance if you are planning to bring any dogs with you. 
Do you have disabled access at the castle?
We can provide disabled access to the ground floor of the castle including the Chapel and the Tenants Hall. We are however unable to offer any disabled access to the upper floors of the castle. New for 2026, we have introduced a disabled friendly bedroom on the ground floor of the West Wing.
How many guests does Cluny Castle sleep? 
Cluny Castle has 15 individually decorated bedrooms sleeping up to 30 guests. 4 additional z-beds are available for small children however these must be booked in advance.

Private stays FAQs

What’s included in the exclusive hire of Cluny Castle?
Exclusive use of the castle and grounds for the duration of your stay allowing you plenty of time to relax and unwind. Our costs do not include catering, activities and experiences, on site or further afield or transport to and from the castle. All of which can be arranged on request, additional charges apply. 
Can I book just one room at Cluny Castle? 
Cluny Castle is a private, exclusive use castle rather than a hotel. The castle is hired in its entirety therefore; it is not possible to book a single room. 
If we do not require all the bedrooms, would anyone else be staying? 
No. Cluny Castle is private home and is hired to you on an exclusive use basis.
What time is arrival and departure for guests?
Arrival time for your guests is from 3pm. An earlier arrival time can be arranged with prior agreement however this would be subject to availability. Departure time is 12noon.
Is catering included?
Catering is not included however this can be arranged through our trusted private chefs and catering partners, working with the best of what the surrounding region has to offer. Menus and catering requirements are tailored to your group and quoted separately.
Are staff and housekeeping included? 
Housekeeping is included throughout your stay, and additional service staff, including a butler and waiting team, can be arranged as required. The team will work with you in advance to ensure everything is in place before you arrive.
Do you have a minimum stay? 
Yes, we have a minimum stay of 3 nights.
Can we arrange a food delivery?
Yes, supermarket deliveries (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s etc) can be organised either prior to arrival or once you have checked in. Please confirm with Cluny prior to arrival. There are also smaller, local artisan delicatessens within the local area offering excellent regional Scottish larder essentials and speciality foods. 
What activities and experiences are available at Cluny Castle?
A stay at Cluny can be as active or as relaxed as you would like. From time on the estate to days spent exploring Aberdeenshire, Royal Deeside, and the wider Highlands, there is no shortage of ways to make the most of your time here. We can arrange a wonderful array of activities on and close to the Estate, along with places to visit and local attractions to offer an immersive and authentic Scottish experience. 

Wedding FAQs

Can I Book a wedding at cluny castle
Yes, although we host only a handful of weddings each year, offering complete exclusivity, luxury onsite accommodation, a storied Chapel, and the freedom to host everything from grand celebrations to intimate gatherings in one exceptional place. 
Can we book a viewing?
Yes, we would be delighted to show you around Cluny and discuss your plan in more detail. Please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable date and time to visit. 
How many people can the castle accomodate?
Our beautiful and unique Chapel can seat up to 120 guests for a ceremony. The intimate Dining Room & Drawing Room can accommodate up to 24 guests. The Tenants Hall can seat up to 90 guests for dinner and dancing or up to 150 for dancing if an additional marquee is erected. Or for larger weddings over 90 guests, we have several sites within the stunning grounds for a marquee, all of which enjoy the magnificent backdrop of the Castle.
Can we stay the night before the wedding or extend our stay after the wedding to make a weekend?
Yes, of course. We have a minimum 2-night stay for weddings and most of our guests choose to stay the night before the wedding as well as one or two nights after, so that they can make the most of their wedding weekend. Cluny Castle is hired on an exclusive use basis, and we are very happy to tailor a bespoke package designed specifically for you and your requirements. Please contact us to discuss your plans in more detail and we will be very happy to help you.
Can our guests’ book and pay for their bedrooms directly with you? ​
To ensure you are in complete control of who stays with you in the castle, we allow you to allocate your guests to each bedroom. If your guests are contributing to the cost of their stay, payment should be made directly to you.
Can I hire the house for a wedding ceremony only?
Yes, you can, however this is only possible for weekends between October and March or midweek between April and September.
If we have our ceremony in the Chapel, does it have to be religious?
The Chapel is private and is not on consecrated grounds therefore is not bound by any specific religious faiths. This means that we can conduct any type of ceremony you prefer, whether it is religious, humanist, civil, interfaith or same sex.
Is there anywhere else in the Castle other than the Chapel that we can use for our ceremony? 
Yes, we have the Tenants Hall, the Drawing Room, the Entrance Hall or several beautiful locations within our stunning grounds. Please contact us and we can chat through the options with you in more detail. ​
What is the recommended timeline for a wedding at Cluny?
Throughout the planning of your wedding, we will work with you on the timings of your day to ensure that they work perfectly for you, your guests and the time of year you are getting married.​
Will there be anyone from Cluny Castle to help on the wedding day?
Yes, our dedicated wedding planner will be with you from the very beginning of the planning process to help and guide you through every aspect of your wedding. We will also be on hand for the duration of your stay and throughout the wedding day itself to ensure everything runs smoothly and is as planned from start to finish.​
Is the castle suitable for smaller, more intimate or elopement weddings?
Absolutely! Although we can accommodate large parties, the house is also perfect for more intimate celebrations and lends itself beautifully to small weddings. If you are interested in an intimate/elopement wedding, then please get in touch to discuss further.​
Do you charge a corkage fee?
Corkage fees do apply however this should be discussed directly with your chosen caterer.  ​
Can I use my own choice of suppliers?
Couples can use their own suppliers however this is subject to prior approval and those suppliers meeting our insurance and operational requirements. 
Do we need wedding insurance?​
Wedding insurance might not be the first thing you think about when it comes to starting your wedding planning journey, however it makes sense to make sure that you are protected. No matter how well you plan your wedding when the unexpected happens you want to be prepared which is why we always recommend that you invest in wedding insurance to cover you for every eventuality.
Can we invite additional guests to visit?
Should you wish to host additional guests, this would be classed as an “event” and additional charges may apply. For insurance, security and health and safety reasons, outside guests are not permitted to stay overnight, and any additional visitors must be agreed in writing in advance. 
Can we use confetti?
Yes, you may use confetti at Cluny however to preserve the historic grounds we ask that only natural, biodegradable petals are used and they are only permitted outside within the castle grounds.
Do you allow fireworks?
Yes, we permit fireworks at Cluny. We kindly ask that you use our pre-approved professional suppliers to ensure safety and insurance compliance and as per Scottish Law, they must conclude by 11.00pm.  
Is there other accommodation in the local area for those guests who are not staying at the castle? 
Yes. As we are located only 25 minutes from Aberdeen city centre, there are several hotels in the city that guests can stay at if they want to make a weekend of it. Alternatively, there are several hotels in the local area that we can also recommend. Please do get in touch to discuss in more detail.
Do guests need to pre-arrange taxis?
Definitely! We strongly advise that taxis are always booked well in advance of the wedding evening as we often find that they are either not available to book on the day/night or there will be a lengthy delay for taxis to arrive due to our location. We can of course recommend several companies based both in Inverurie and Aberdeen. Last orders are at 11.45pm for midnight finish and 12.15am departure.​
What are your prices?
​We would love to send you a copy of our Wedding Brochure with further information and prices. Please contact us directly and we will be very happy to send this over to you straight away or if you can’t wait, you can download our wedding brochure directly on the weddings page on our website.
What do your prices include?
​Exclusive use of the castle and grounds for the duration of your stay allowing you plenty of time to relax, unwind and celebrate with those you love most. Our costs do not include catering, activities and experiences or marquees within the grounds should one be required. 

Where to find us

Cluny Castle is situated in tranquil Aberdeenshire countryside and hidden from view by over 300 acres of beautiful, landscaped parkland. Only 30 minutes from Aberdeen city centre and 20 minutes from Aberdeen Airport The address is Cluny Castle, Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, AB51 7RT

You may find this detailed map and directions useful or alternatively, google maps will bring you to the front door although please do be aware that sat nav usually takes you in through the back entrance to the castle!

Contact us

Further enquiries, booking details & costs

To enquire or for further information regarding pricing and availability, please call 01330 833302 or email [email protected] and we will be more than happy to help you.