We’re proud to announce that Dunskey Estate has been shortlisted for ‘Best Luxury Experience’ at the 2026 Scottish Thistle Awards.
Featured in The Times, Dunskey was named one of Scotland’s top tourism picks, with judges particularly impressed by its ‘sense of place’ – everything from the landscape and heritage to the local produce and culture, set in 2,000 coastal acres just outside Portpatrick.
But what exactly are the Scottish Thistle Awards and what does this mean for Dunskey?
What Are The Scottish Thistle Awards?
For over 30 years, the Scottish Thistle Awards have celebrated the very best of Scotland’s tourism and events industry.
From hotels and visitor attractions to luxury experiences and local food and drink, the Scottish Thistle Awards shine a spotlight on what makes Scotland a fantastic place to visit – and the people who make it happen.
Winners join a prestigious roll of honour – an exclusive list of businesses that help inspire and grow tourism in Scotland. Across 15 regional and four national-only categories, winners gain formal recognition for their innovation, excellence and success within the industry.
Dunskey Estate Shortlisted for Best Luxury Experience
Sponsored by Luxury Textiles, the award for ‘Best Luxury Experience’ celebrates businesses that bring luxury to the Scottish visitor experience as well as a certain ‘wow-factor’ that you can’t get anywhere else.
With a strong focus on exclusivity and attention to detail, this award recognises the innovative and unique way guests experience luxury at every moment during their stay – something our team delivers day-to-day without exception.
At Dunskey, we tailor the experience to every one of our guests. Whether you visit for a castle wedding, a filming project or a corporate retreat, we make it our mission to create truly unforgettable moments, whatever the occasion.
With an Edwardian castle at the heart of the grounds, surrounded by waterfalls, a hedge maze, an 18th-century walled garden and a Victorian glasshouse, our guests can experience all kinds of magic, from intimate gatherings to a full exclusive-use takeover.
Alastair Orr Ewing, Co-founder of Dunskey Estate, said:
“Dunskey House was built by my great-great-grandfather, Charles Lindsay Orr Ewing, and has been loved and cared for by five generations of our family since. A Scottish Thistle Award would be a profound honour, a recognition not just of where we are today, but of the vision, dedication and history that generations before me poured into this remarkable corner of Scotland.”
What Happens Next: The National Final
The Scottish Thistle Awards national final will take place on Friday 20th November in Edinburgh, where the winner of ‘Best Luxury Experience’ will be announced.
We will be proud to sit alongside some of Scotland’s very best businesses and individuals on the night, whatever the outcome, and we wish our fellow nominees the best of luck.
Looking for Scotland’s best luxury experience? Whether you’re planning a castle wedding, booking a corporate retreat, or looking for a stay in an activity-filled estate, Dunskey is a bucket-list experience that goes well beyond an average Scottish staycation.
Enquire with us today or discover more of what Dunskey has to offer.
