Begin Your Love Affair With Scotland at Rosneath Castle Park

I was born in Glasgow but left Scotland when I was 18. I only returned to report on The Open Championship when it was staged there and, on occasion, to go back and play some of the fabulous golf courses that my homeland has to offer.

In truth, I only fell in love with the land of my birth again when I spent a week in 2023 visiting Edinburgh, Lundin Links, St Andrews and Inverness. It was not a golfing holiday - it was an opportunity to show off the scenery to my wife. And I adored every minute of it.

We returned in 2024 to spend a week on the banks of Loch Tay and finished it off with a couple of days in the city of my birth.

And we enjoyed it so much that we have just been back again.

One of the main reasons that many people may avoid Scotland as a holiday destination is the weather. Please don’t let that put you off. It is NOT as bad as you may have been led to believe and if it should rain there is always something to do, somewhere to visit. And, in truth, even the rain cannot spoil the views. 

There are times when Scotland takes my breath away. And it happened again on our visit to Rosneath Castle Park, where we had the bonus of perfect weather.

A Bit of History

A castle has stood at Rosneath since the 12th century and has played host to the likes of William Wallace, Winston Churchill and Dwight D Eisenhower.

It was also home to the Dukes of Argyll and, sadly, been the victim of several fires that ultimately led to its demise.

The original castle was built overlooking what is now known as Castle Bay. Its main entry point was through tunnels from the shore which led into the basement of the castle.

In 1803 construction started on Rosneath House. The 5th Duke of Argyll asked Joseph Bonomi to design it. It was of a neo-classical design but was never completed to Bonomi’s original design. Following the death of the 5th Duke in 1806, his heir stopped work in 1810 because there was no money and work on the interior was not completed until 1820. Incredibly, it was also hit by fire.

The Park

Rosneath Castle Park is located on the banks of the beautiful Gare Loch, not far from the town of Helensburgh and it plays hosts to a fabulous holiday park.

We stayed in one of the park’s holiday homes that can sleep up to six people, with two bedrooms (one double and one twin room).

Ours came with an en-suite bathroom and a separate toilet and shower, dining area, fully equipped kitchen with microwave, fridge and freezer, plenty of storage, double glazing, central heating and an electric fire. 

Tea towels and bed linen are provided and there is also dedicated parking.

Dog friendly options are also available.

One of the things that struck me was how incredibly well maintained the park is - and it is spotlessly clean.

It is the perfect base for either a golf trip or a family holiday - or both!

Food

You can, of course, opt for a full self-catering break but most visitors head for the Castle Isle Bar and Restaurant, which serves a decent range of food and drink. It is open for lunch, evening meals and also offers take-away, too, so you can enjoy a great meal back in your accommodation.

Options include pub classics such as scampi, haddock and chips and steak pie to curries, burgers and pizzas, and there are also vegetarian options. And it is not going to break the bank - pizzas start at £10, a burger will cost you £11.50 with all the trimmings and steak pie is just £13. It is excellent, wholesome food.

Throughout the season the bar also hosts a variety of entertainment, including karaoke, quiz nights, live music and themed and bingo nights. We joined in a bingo night, and the atmosphere was terrific.

Facilities

There is a host of activities to choose from on-site. You can hire a kayak or paddle board for just £20, there is a terrific play area for children and a family fun zone. There is also a laundrette, a well-stocked shop that sells a wide range of food, groceries and alcohol at very reasonable prices. And if you can’t find what you are looking for, there is a Co-op in the nearby village of Rosneath.

The Golf

Rosneath is located about 25-30 miles from Glasgow, which means there are a host of good value courses to choose from, but the closest is Helensburgh, a delightful 18-hole moorland course with stunning views. You could also use this as a base to explore the many wonderful courses throughout Argyll & Bute.

Helensburgh Golf Club

• 5,942 yards, par 69, moorland
• Green fee, depending on the time of year, fees range from £27.50 to £50 for 18 holes

Located just 20 miles from Glasgow, the course is in a relaxing and tranquil setting with stunning views over the Clyde Estuary to the south and over Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to the north. The gently undulating terrain and varied layout is playable for all but a challenge for the best. To score well you will need to plot your way round and master the fast and true putting surfaces. 

The opening hole measures just 277 yards. A good tee shot with a long iron or fairway wood followed by a short iron on to the green which slopes back to front will provide a birdie opportunity. Big hitters might consider driving the green and going for an eagle, but bunkers short of the green and to the right and left are very much in play. The second, at 423 yards, calls for strategy to avoid finishing partly up a hill just over 200 yards away. Doing so will leave a level stance for a long iron or fairway wood for the blind second. The third, a 175-yard par three, can be anything from a short iron to a wood depending on the wind. The green is protected by a bunker, pond and out of bounds and the green slopes from back to front and helps stop the ball. The fifth measures just 255 yards and is an obvious birdie chance if you avoid the bunkers. The eighth is 362 yards uphill. If you can reach the top of the hill you will have a simple approach and a possible birdie.

The 10th is a 440-yard par four. Aim for the right of the fairway and the contours will bring your ball back to the middle and should leave a mid-iron approach. The 11th is a proper par three of 201 yards offering great views from the tee over the Clyde towards Arran. A green sloping front to back can result in a well-hit tee shot running through. Aiming for the right of the green will allow the contours to assist you. The 12th is 333 yards played to a blind green hidden in a dell lined by trees. Select a club that will leave you short of the gap and ideally to the right of it. From there it is just a little pitch, but bear in mind that this is a big green so take plenty of club. A well-struck drive over the dip at the 396-yard 14th will leave you over the brow of the hill but you need to avoid the bunkers either side of the fairway. A second shot played down the right hand side will reach the green, which slopes right to left and back to front. Accuracy from the tee is key at the 369-yard 15th, with out of bounds on the right. With your approach you need to clear a ditch to hit the two-tier green. The 16th, a 146-yard par three, calls for a carry over a quarry to a flat green. The 18th is 400 yards with a wide fairway. The further up you are  the easier it is to flight the second on to the green, sitting in front of the clubhouse. 

Before and after your round, order from a menu of freshly prepared dishes. There is also a great range of drinks and barista coffees or why not sample a local Loch Lomond malt whisky?

Things to Do

No visit to this part of the country is compete without a visit to The Hill House in Helensburgh. Considered to be the finest work of renowned architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, it was commissioned by Glasgow book publisher Walter Blackie. Mackintosh worked closely with artist Margaret Macdonald to create a masterpiece. Sadly, the exterior of the building has been hit by damp but a huge outer shell now protects it from the elements.

Loch Lomond is within striking distance and Glasgow is a short car journey away. And you simply must visit the stunning town of Inverary, complete with castle, home to the Duke of Argyll.

Why not consider taking a trip on the PS Waverley, the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer? And it would be rude not to visit a distillery - Glengoyne is nearby.

The park is only a couple of miles from the naval base at Faslane, home to the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet. We did not see any subs, but we did witness a frigate heading back to port and then back out to sea the next day.

Or you could just jump in the car and enjoy that glorious scenery. You may just end up embarking on a love affair with Scotland.

Verdict

Rosneath is a special place. The accommodation and on-site food are superb, the service is warm and friendly and the views are to die for. And it is the ideal venue to explore some of the best golf courses Scotland has to offer. And if you get good weather there is nowhere better.

For full details, please go to rosneathcastle.co.uk and helensburghgolfclub.co.uk.