Daniel Seung Lee
The Scottish Highlands have a mythical pull for many travelers…the emerald green hills shrouded in mystery, the navy colored lochs that seem to stretch forever, and a special sense of history that is kept alive by those that live there.
Rising from this dramatic landscape is Aldourie Castle, the only habitable castle on the shores of the infamous Loch Ness. Recently restored in a meticulous conservation project that earned the castle a RIAS Award for Architectural Excellence, Aldourie seamlessly fuses the grandeur associated with fairytales and princesses with modern eco-luxury.
Staying at Aldourie is not just any ordinary stay or online booking. The castle likes to focus on special events and will not book individual rooms, but through the partnership of Capital One x PRIOR, guests recently were invited into a world where Scottish heritage and the harmony of the Highlands converged seamlessly.
The partnership between Capital One x PRIOR reflects a new model of luxury travel, one that goes beyond five-star accommodations that everyone can access to create a more deeply curated, insider-driven cultural immersion in the chosen destinations. Together, they design small-group journeys that open doors normally closed to the public such as private dinners in historic castles, like Aldourie, after-hours access to landmarks, private moments with sporting legends, and once-in-a-lifetime activities like a swing clinic, golfing, and post-golf cocktails with World Hall of Famer and former Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie on Scotland’s world-renowned Royal Dornoch fairways. Upcoming trips in Rome and Bordeaux build on this unique vision, offering travelers the chance to dine in unique locations, step inside vineyard estates, and experience the kind of authentic yet elevated access that defines this very special collaboration.
Even under moody, gray skies, Aldourie Castle’s amber and brown tones surrounded by gardens of green feel warm and welcoming. Guests are greeted by the castle’s grandness, it just gets bigger and bigger as it comes into view, beautifully manicured gardens, and just before being led into the place you’ll be raving about years from now, you meet some of the most lovely hosts you’ll ever interact with.
The castle’s interiors are lined with adorned walls, huge, always lit fireplaces, antique furnishings, and expansive windows framing views of the expansive gardens and lawns, and just beyond you’ll see the incredible Loch Ness.
An evening at Aldourie could easily begin at the Boathouse to watch the sun set over the loch. This highly designed structure is carved in the shape of a boat’s hull and moored on the loch’s edge. Guests are always invited to take a dip into the loch, which honestly, begins much more shallow than expected, offering an ease for swimmers of all levels.
There’s no Whole Foods or Wegman’s here. A walk through the estate’s gardens will immediately show where the kitchen grabs its groceries from. In the castle garden, the chef gets his start with farm-to-table ingredients that easily blend into traditional Highland flavors with contemporary culinary and guests will never go hungry at Aldourie. There’s always a meal being planned, as well as readily available snacks, pastries, teas, wine, so much abundance.
Among Aldourie’s most striking features is its massive main greenhouse, a glass structure that mirrors the design of the estate’s Boathouse on Loch Ness. Just as the Boathouse opens to sweeping views of the water, the large greenhouse floods with light and frames the gardens in perfect symmetry. Inside, guests can dine alongside the thriving seasonal plantings and heirloom varieties that underscore the estate’s dedication to design, nature, and sustainability. Together, these two buildings create a dialogue between land and loch, architecture that seamlessly ties the cultivated gardens to the natural majesty of the Highlands.
One of the more notable eateries in the Highlands is FEAST, a former village schoolhouse reinvented as a restaurant on the Tulchan Estate, where they’ve prepared a menu rooted in local, seasonal produce. Each course here celebrates the rugged flavors of the Highlands where they cater to all diets. From meat eaters to pescatarians, diners can “feast” on trout caught in the nearby river while everyone, including vegans can enjoy the veg pulled directly from the estate’s own soil. They even provide locals with monthly subscription boxes with meats, such as beef, lamb, and venison, plus, veggies from the estate.
What makes the Capital One x PRIOR experiences extraordinary is not only their settings but the particular curation. Every detail is designed to immerse guests, in this particular instance, they chose Scotland’s Highland culture, while maintaining the intimacy and comfort of an exclusive stay, while making friends along the way.
A visit to Ballindalloch Distillery will happily engage travelers into Highland’s whisky heritage. Located in the Speyside whisky region, this distillery represents centuries of craft and tradition, producing expressions that range in tastes and each flavor is tied to the surrounding landscape. The experience is deepened with a private tour of Ballindalloch Castle, owned and managed by the Macpherson-Grant family, an estate that currently houses their family and has been their family home dating back to 1546.
Accessing these dreamy journeys is designed to be seamless for Capital One Venture X cardholders who receive a complimentary PRIOR subscription. Cardholders can then opt in to receive Capital One Entertainment emails or browse for them directly in the Capital One app, where upcoming Capital One x PRIOR trips are listed at a set price on a first-come, first-served basis, no bidding required. These special collaborations are not a one-offs, this is anongoing partnership. This travel dynamic duo has additional curated trips planned to continue through 2026, ensuring continued opportunities for Capital One Venture X cardholders to experience PRIOR’s signature blend of culture, access, and luxury.
Guests left Aldourie energized, inspired even. Not only by the castle’s and the staff’s magic, but by the conversations sparked nightly by the warm fire pit under the constellations. Travelers who trekked from as far away as Washington State, Kansas, and New Mexico, from Park City, Utah and Ocean City, New Jersey all left with a little piece of Scotland in their heart. Proof that PRIOR’s model of travel through conversation resonates deeply. Many were already planning their next journey together, with Capital One x PRIOR’s future adventures. These aren’t just vacations or getaways, but shared experiences that linger long after the return home
Daniel Seung Lee
Made in the shape of a boat’s hull, the Boathouse is nestled on the iconic Loch Ness and is the perfect place on the estate to catch a sunset.
Daniel Seung Lee
Aldourie Castle is dressed in timeless Highlands elegance.
Daniel Seung Lee
Venture X Cardholders had the unique opportunity to attend a swing clinic and golf with World Hall of Famer and former Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie at Royal Dornoch.
Daniel Seung Lee
Curated dinners by the executive chef using garden to table ingredients from the castle grounds were held nightly for guests at Aldourie Castle.
Daniel Seung Lee
Breakfast at Aldourie Castle gives guests a variety of seasonal fruits, fresh juices, yogurts, traditional Scottish breakfast, and omlettes.
Daniel Seung Lee
Through Capital One x PRIOR guests on this Highlands adventure were treated to a whisky tour and private tasting at Ballindalloch Distillery.
Daniel Seung Lee
Travelers were shown the barrels at during the whisky tour and told the green barrel was reserved for Queen Camilla.
Daniel Seung Lee
Considered one of the top 2 courses in the world, Capital One x Prior brought guests to Royal Dornoch Golf Club for a round of golf and were treated with several rainbows.
Daniel Seung Lee
The expansive lawns of Aldourie Castle reach to Loch Ness and host charity events, Highland games, and special occasions.
Daniel Seung Lee
Formerly used as a stable, this venue on the Castle grounds was a more rustic dinner setting for travelers with the Capital One x PRIOR group.
Daniel Seung Lee
Guy McPherson-Grant has a chat with the Capital One x PRIOR travel group, a unique opportunity to talk to the owner of a family owned castle that’s been in his family since the 1500s.
Daniel Seung Lee
FEAST, a popular restaurant in the Highlands, hosted a beautiful lunch a their Tulchan Estate featuring local trout and estate-farmed veggies.
