What’s The Story In Balamory? Visitors are invited to rent out iconic seven-bed pink Scottish castle from the hit children’s show
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Families can reinvent themselves as ancient Scottish royalty in a pink castle from the much-loved British children’s show Balamory, available to rent for $2,544 (£1,875) per night. Fenton Tower in East Lothian, close to North Berwick and about 20 miles from Edinburgh, is known to most today as the home of Archie the inventor from the hit BBC show. However, the 20-acre site of the seven-bedroom castle has a history stretching as far back as the 11th Century, and became a favorite of King James VI after it gave him refuge from rebels.
Fenton Tower is close to North Berwick and about 20 miles from Edinburgh, and the pink castle featured in hit British children’s show Balamory (pictured). Now a listed ancient monument, groups of 13 can stay at Fenton Tower for $2,544 (£1,875) per night.
In 1650, the tower was sacked by Oliver Cromwell’s armies and stood as a ruin for nearly 350 years before its $2.71million (£2million) restoration by Ian Simpson and John Macaskill. The listing states: ‘You’ll find you’re in the ideal position to survey your new kingdom, with 360-degree panoramic views of rolling countryside, complete with a host of country activities to enjoy.’
The castle is known to most today as the home of Archie the inventor from the hit BBC show Balamory (pictured).
One of the many bedrooms in Fenton Tower, used in the BBC children’s show Balamory.
The castle’s rustic and stunning living room. Guests can rent the tower for $2,544 (£1,875) per night
Now a listed ancient monument, groups of 13 can stay at Fenton Tower. Pictured is another one of the castle’s stunning bedrooms.
The 20-acre site of the seven-bedroom castle has a history stretching as far back as the 11th Century. The current tower was built by Patrick Whytelaw in around 1550. But in 1587, ownership of the tower was forfeited to Sir John Carmichael, the Scottish Ambassador to Denmark who was also responsible for policing the borders between Scotland and England.
Fenton Tower contains more than 7,000 sq ft of living space. Pictured, one of the castle’s many bedrooms.
A bathroom with a modern shower and a rustic standing bathtub at Fenton Tower, around 20 miles from Edinburgh.
A listing on website Host Unusual states: ‘Reinvent yourself as ancient Scottish royalty, in a historic castle tower that looks over the majestic countryside of East Lothian’.
In 1631, the tower passed to Sir John Maxwell of Innerwick. However his enjoyment of the castle was short-lived after Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland in 1650.
The surrounding land passed to Sir John Nisbet in 1663, and then on to the Simpson family in the mid-19th Century. Their descendants decided to start the tower’s restoration in 1998, and has since reopened its doors again to the people of Scotland. Speaking to The New York Times, Mr Macaskill said: ‘It was wonderful for me to work on this, as these towers are such an interest of mine. But there was quite a lot to decipher before we could get started. We had to work out what had been there and then adapt it to suit modern needs. But I was very pleased they wanted to put it back as it was and not just stick a glass box onto the side of the ruins.’