Travelling to Rothes Glen
The Luxury Castle for Whisky Connoisseurs
No matter how you choose to travel, Rothes Glen promises a seamless and personalized experience tailored to your desires. Arrive refreshed, relaxed, and ready to immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty and refined elegance of our historic estate.
For those seeking the ultimate convenience and thrill, our helicopter transfer is the pinnacle of luxury. Depart directly from your preferred location and soar above the stunning Scottish countryside. As you approach Rothes Glen, the panoramic views will leave you breathless. Land directly on our estate grounds, where your every need will be catered to from the moment you touch down.
Whether you're arriving by private jet, helicopter, or chauffeured car, your adventure begins the moment you depart.
Meet The Team
Damian Riley-Smith
Managing Director & Owner
Joanna Murdoch
Manager
Damian has 25 years of experience in publishing and events, founding Whisky Magazine and Whisky Live. His company, Paragraph, oversees the World Whiskies Awards and Whisky Hall of Fame. He and his wife Pippa renovated Rothes Glen, blending luxury design and whisky heritage to create an exceptional Speyside experience for enthusiasts.
Born in a castle and raised in Speyside, Joanna's passion for hospitality is evident in every guest interaction. Her love for travel and connecting with guests ensures personalised stays at Rothes Glen. With expertise in event planning, she guarantees smooth, memorable experiences, setting an example for the entire team.
Moira Gilchrist
Commercial Manager
Alan Robertson
Head Chef
Moira joined Rothes Glen in 2021 with over 25 years of hospitality sales experience, having worked for major hotel groups and the Scottish Hotel Awards. Passionate about sales, she excels at building strong relationships with clients and partners, striving to exceed expectations alongside the professional and dynamic team at the castle.
Born and raised in Speyside, Alan combines his love for cooking and whisky to craft thoughtful menus and stunning dishes. Since Rothes Glen opened, he’s created bespoke dining experiences using local ingredients. Alan enjoys engaging with guests, discussing his culinary processes, and sharing his passion for fine dining and Scotch whisky.
Violet Philpot
Assistant Chef
Stephen Crossland
General Assistant
Violet, a mother of seven, has spent her life cooking and caring for others. With deep roots in Speyside’s whisky and hospitality world, she brings her expertise to Rothes Glen. From hearty breakfasts to mouth-watering scones, Violet’s culinary contributions make the castle feel warm and welcoming, providing guests with a true home-away-from-home experience.
With over 25 years of experience in hospitality, brewing, and distilling across Northern Scotland, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and passion. Whether hosting whisky tastings, casino evenings, or snooker coaching, he's always available to offer advice and ensure every guest's stay at Rothes Glen is unique and memorable.
Charlotte Philpot
FOH Assistant and Housekeeper
Mario Carlvaho
Gardener
After exploring various careers, Charlotte has discovered her true passion in hospitality. Having progressed from housekeeping to front of house, she is eager to further develop her skills in event planning and guest care. As the youngest team member, Charlotte excels at ensuring every detail at Rothes Glen runs seamlessly, enhancing the guest experience.
Originally from Madeira, Mario moved to Speyside in 2007 for a better climate. With a passion for gardening, he combines hard work and knowledge to maintain Rothes Glen’s gardens. Known for his green outfit and meticulous attention to detail, Mario is dedicated to creating and developing the castle’s beautiful outdoor spaces.
A Stay to Remember
"Your house and grounds are quite superb, with so many delightfully surprising new rooms and clever touches. You’ve turned the place into a delightful and comfortable, welcoming grand house."
Leonard
Scotland
"We had a delightful two days in your impressive Rothes Glen. Thank you for all your personal involvement and care with the difficult logistics getting us to all activities. Certainly we will spread the word."
Horst
Vietnam
"We were all absolutely blown away by Rothes Glen and will definitely be using you for all our accommodation needs."
Greg
Italy
"Stephen and the rest of the staff were so attentive and made us feel right at home. Despite being warned to not further inflate chef’s ego - the food was spectacular and literally remarkable!"
Olek
United Kingdom
"We simply adored it. The dram on the roof top made it complete."
Hans
The Netherlands
"Family and friends had an amazing time, and the Rothes Glen team were fantastic. So pleased to have this anniversary celebration in a castle and have lovely memories of their weekend."
Kevin White
"The castle is one of the best I’ve visited in Scotland."
Ken
Scotland
“Wow..thats all I can say. An amazing place with amazing staff that compliment the building. They showed nothing but care for us during our stay and were knowledge and attentive.”
Alasdair Duncan
“Rothes Glen is without a doubt one of the most exceptional private castles of this size that I have encountered. Its superb refurbishment has been achieved without compromising the extraordinary period features and detailing - it is truly a quite outstanding property.”
Ruardaigh Ogilvie
"I just wanted to thank you again for a fabulous weekend at Rothes Glen. The castle is absolutely wonderful, the activities were great fun and the food and whiskey, absolutely delicious! We had a fantastic experience and can't thank you all enough for the invitation and everything you did for us."
Katie Gibson
"I would love to relive last weekend all over again and just wanted to say an enormous thankyou to the amazing team at Rothes Glen. From start to finish it was an incredible experience that we loved every minute of and wont forget. The Castle was stunning, activities were immense and the food to die for."
Peter Mitchell
"A quite beautiful place. Perfect luxury retreat or escape. Whisky lovers are in for a unique treat."
Bill Murray