<div>They say your home is your castle. But there are few who can call a castle their home. However, changing times and rising affluence have ensured that living life ‘kingsize’ is no longer the sole prerogative of those born into royalty. <br /> </div><div>There are castles on rent. Yes, you heard it right. With the economy being what it is, the erstwhile lords and ladies of the manor are either letting out their abodes or converting them into hotels — giving you a chance to make a castle your home — for a weekend, a week or even a month. Of course, you would have to fork out a king’s ransom. <br /> </div><div>A castle hotel is a great option if you want a change from the monotony of hotel chains, especially if you have a yen for discovering hidden chambers and exploring towers and dungeons. The adventurous can choose from a host of royal games such as archery, horse riding or even falconry. And if that is not your idea of a holiday, you can always soak up the lush green countryside and let your senses, dulled by urban life, take in the rolling meadows and nature’s symphony. <br /> </div><div>What makes castles so special to stay in? Well, it’s all in the history. The uncertainties of life in medieval Europe provided the inspiration for building of sturdy castles with formidable fortifications. But the comfort demanded by the feudal spirit transformed their interiors into elegant and snug abodes. While Belgium is regarded as having one of the highest numbers of castles in the world — over 3,000, the Czech Republic comes a close second with some 2,000 royal mansions. That said, it’s the British isles with over 700 castles that offer the most variety, say the mavens. “Every castle is unique. You can have a complete castle holiday where, within a few hours of driving, you can move from one to another,” says Roger Masterson, of Celtic Castles, a UK-based travel company specialising in castle rentals.<br /> </div><div>There are hundreds of castles up for hire. Your choice is only constrained by the size of your wallet and your imagination. If you want a taste of the Scottish highlands, apart from the scotch you drink, check out Aldourie castle, built on the shores of Loch Ness in the Scottish Baronial style.<br /> <br />It has 15 bedrooms and can be hired for £11,000 for a weekend. It’s also available on a self-catering basis, making it ideal for vegetarian family get togethers. Hire the place and bring in your own chef. Alternatively, you can hire it for both boarding and lodging. Nessie may even favour you with an appearance. <br /> </div><div>If the turrets in fairy tales fascinate you, Walton Castle in south-west England, which can accommodate 16 guests, is your place. Each room lies within a turret. All for £2,800 a night.<br /> </div><div>While hiring an entire castle is recommended if you are a large group (say, for a family get together), for a small group (2-4), the castle hotels that dot Britain and Ireland may be more comfortable.<br /> </div><div>Take the 13th-century Dalhousie Castle near Edinburgh in Scotland. It is one of the oldest castles to be converted into a hotel. It offers a combination of history and splendour with acres of surrounding forests and parkland, river pastures and modern day comforts including a spa. <br /> </div><div>For those that are fascinated with the macabre, check out the Bottle Dungeon, a 10-square foot windowless chamber where prisoners used to be lowered in by rope. The castle even has an India link: it is owned by the family of Lord Dalhousie, the governor general of India between 1848 and 1856. It sports an ‘India bedroom’ to celebrate that connection. For ent­e­r­tainment, it has a library, surrounding parklands and falconry. You can learn to hunt with the owls and, if you are really enthusiastic, do a five-day course on how to keep and train the birds. Rooms are available for £240 onwards per night and the rate covers breakfast and dinner.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Castle Country</strong></div><div>Irish castles are among the most beautiful properties in all of Europe. An hour’s drive from Dublin airport will take you to the Cabra castle built in 1760. It’s a luxury hotel now. Play a round of golf on the castle’s 9-hole golf course or indulge in some clay pigeon shooting. Rooms are priced at <span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16px;">€</span>150 onwards. If you fall for haunted houses, check out Ballyseede Castle in County Kerry. The 15th-century building has a resident ghost, Hilda, who is known to walk along the corridors of the basement! <br /> </div><div>While staying in a castle is an experience in itself, you may want to combine it with sightseeing or exploring places nearby. In which case, select a castle in close proximity to a city. Also, check the size of the property, which will depend upon how large a group you are travelling with. <br /> </div><div>The experience of staying in a castle is more than what meets the eye. Masterson, who is also called the Castle Man as he has slept in over a 100 castles, sums it up: “You check in and out of hotels all the time. But when you stay in a castle you touch history.”<br /><br /><div>smitatripathi(at)<span style="line-height: 1.4;">bworldmail(dot)com</span></div><div>Twitter: (at)smitabw<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 20-05-2013)</span><br /><br /> </div></div>