Ferniehirst Castle near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders is offered for exclusive rental. It sleeps 18 guests in nine bedrooms with seven bathrooms, and its Grand Hall is presented as the setting for dinners and other functions. The castle is the seat of Clan Kerr, two miles south of Jedburgh, above the river Jed in the Jed Valley.
Seminars and company events
The official site does not describe a seminar offer, but the format suits a small executive retreat, a board weekend or a team gathering. Because the castle is rented as a whole, a group of up to 18 can stay, meet and dine without other guests in the house. The Grand Hall is the main gathering room. Smaller rooms give breakout space: the Turret Sitting Room with sofas and a log burner, the Nursery sitting room with kitchen facilities, and the Turret Library, a small round room about 7 ft 6 in across.
The grounds include a tennis court and forest walks.
Weddings and receptions
The site does not mention weddings. It does say that the Grand Hall is suited to dinners and other functions, so private celebrations are possible. Hosts who want a wedding, a family reunion or a milestone dinner should ask the owners directly what is allowed in the house and grounds.
Rooms and capacities
The castle is rented exclusively. Named spaces on the official site:
- The Grand Hall, the social center of the castle, with a large ornate fireplace, portraits and locally crafted oak tables and benches.
- The Gallery, a wood-panelled landing above the stone stair.
- The Outer Hall, with a hand-painted frieze of ten panels.
- The Kitchen, in the former inner chamber.
- The Turret Sitting Room, the Turret Library and the Nursery.
No standing or banquet capacity is published for the Grand Hall. Ask for the number of dinner guests the owners accept.
Accommodation
The castle sleeps 18 in nine bedrooms with seven bathrooms. Additional areas on the site's menu are the Lothian Wing and the Vaulted Undercrofts. The castle is still a family home of the Kerr family, restored inside in the 1980s and equipped with modern comforts.
Catering
The official pages do not describe catering. The Nursery has kitchen facilities and the castle has its own kitchen. Ask whether the owners can recommend caterers for a dinner.
History and setting
The castle was first built in 1476 by Sir Thomas Kerr and rebuilt by Sir Andrew Kerr in 1598 after being nearly demolished in 1593. The ground-level chambers and cellars date back to 1476. It stands in forest, above the river Jed.
Getting there
Ferniehirst is two miles south of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders. The official pages give no station or airport. Organizers should ask for directions and for parking when they send their request.
