Since a young age I’ve been fascinated by ‘big houses’. Enchanted by their stately interiors and impressive edifices, I’ve always fantasized about living in a castle or mansion. Last week gave me just a taste of what it’s like to call such a place home.

Auchinleck House in East Ayrshire is owned by The Landmark Trust, a charitable organization who rescue endangered buildings across Britain and make them available for holiday rentals. My Mum, a fellow historic house enthusiast, has stayed in Landmark properties before, and last summer we were browsing their website with purely innocent intentions. Needless to say our willpower soon faltered upon finding a stately mansion close to our home available for a discounted winter rate the following January. Within a few minutes we’d egged each other on to the point of booking Auchinleck House (capable of sleeping a party of thirteen) for just the two of us! It was a somewhat crazy whim, but the prospect of indulging our shared delusions of grandeur proved just too inviting. Continue reading →