Belle Isle Castle

Belle Isle, inhabited since the 11th Century, came into ownership of the Gore family in the early part of the 17th Century. Sir Ralph Gore’s grandson, later to be Earl of Ross, made extensions to the estate and created a magnificent garden. On the Earl’s death, the estate passed to his only daughter, whose husband sold Belle Isle to the Rev. John Porter from England. The last member of the Porter family sold Belle Isle to the Duke of Abercorn, who purchased the 470 acre estate for his second son, Lord Nicholas Hamilton. The conversion of the castle was completed in 1993. The Coach House and Courtyard were then skillfully converted into ten comfortable cottages, four of which are available to clients of Stately Holiday Homes.

Belle Isle Castle

Dining Room	Bedroom

The Castle offers eight bedroom/seven bathroom accommodation for up to 14 people (optional arrangement available that sleeps up to 8 people)

Ground floor: from an imposing double vaulted entrance chamber, guests pass through an inner hall and into the elegant drawing room with its magnificent open fireplace, crowned by an over mantel mirror.

Fine English and Irish antiques, rattan furniture from the spice island of Cebu and striking Russian paintings from St. Petersburg all help to create the room's comfortable and welcoming ambience while full, floor length windows offer views outside to a charming sunken garden.

From the opposite end of the entrance hall one enters the Grand Hall, a vast banqueting room complete with its own minstrels’ gallery and capable of seating thirty people in opulent comfort. Antique furniture and paintings by Victorian masters are all offset beautifully by the dramatic colour scheme created by international interior designer, the late David Hicks.

First floor: the eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms within the castle can cater for up to 14 people in complete comfort and style.

Each room has a quality all of its own featuring either antique or hand-crafted pine furniture and individual characteristics such as exposed oak beams, delicate 19th Century ceramics or a striking four poster bed.

The Courtyard Cottages

There are four Courtyard Cottages offering one, two and three bedroom accommodation sleeping between 2 and 6 people.

Cottages available are:
• 1 bedroom/1 bathroom – sleeps 2 people
• 2 bedroom/2 bathroom – sleeps up to 4 people
• 3 bedroom/2 bathroom – sleeps up to 6 people

The Courtyard, Belle Isle Castle

Each cottage is furnished to a high standard and imaginatively decorated with warm colours. Two of the other properties have been adapted for disabled use, available on request. Each cottage is different in terms of layout, but all have well-equipped areas with full cookers, microwaves and washing machine/dryers. The living/dining areas are all beautifully furnished with TV/Video and wood burning stove. Each cottage has its own outside patio area with table and seating.

Site facilities include an all-weather tennis court in the old walled garden, coarse fishing, children’s play area, croquet lawn and boat hire. Game shooting and stalking can be arranged with prior notice. There is a special boat suitable for a wheelchair.