Frolic Log Week 47: Great Estates
Lower the drawbridge. We're moving in.
Beautiful, grand homes weren’t built just to impress. They were created by people who knew how to live, legends who filled their rooms and gardens with guests, music, bustle, and parties. These estates were meant for running wild through meadows and waltzing through candlelit halls.
Castles, once small cities unto themselves, were centers of business and entertainment. But the real magic lay in their grounds: endless stretches of pasture, forest, and ravine. Imagine a private backyard the size of Central Park. Nothing to slow you down but a busted toe or a sprained ankle.
There’s something transformative about having green land stretch as far as the eye can see. It makes the mind soar.
Ireland
Our first stop is Huntington Castle in Clonegall, Ireland. A stay within this stronghold will finally clear up any mystery around confusing terms such as drawing room, sitting room, and conservatory. All unrelated to the tasks at hand, these rooms are mostly for sitting or eating, while some involve enjoying the tapestries on the walls.
Spain
Located in the village of Llaés, not far from Barcelona, this 10th-century castle sits atop a hill in a region rich with rivers and valleys. With only ten inhabitants in the surrounding area, the landscape feels like your very own playground as you set off on a new adventure each morning.
Germany
This 13th-century Schloss has been in the private hands of one family for over half a millennium. Built with four corner towers that once housed the night quarters, the castle also features a grand terrace overlooking the neighboring forest. While this hidden gem in Germany may not have been at the top of your travel bucket list, I challenge you to take one look and not start mentally packing your bags.
Italy
Lower the drawbridge. We’re moving in. This romantic castello, tucked into the Tuscan hills and steeped in echoes of the Borgias, nails the balance between medieval grit and soft elegance. Think stone walls, pastel linens, and a pool casually carved into the old ramparts. The surrounding land is classic Tuscany: dense forests, vineyards, and olive groves as far as the eye can see.
Scotland
For our final grand estate, we sweep across the Scottish countryside and arrive at Dollarbeg Castle, just in time for a game of chess in the turreted tower. Within an hour, you can be in Edinburgh or Glasgow, offering that perfect balance of seclusion without true isolation. And while these sprawling estates may no longer be the dream homes of young families, they can be beautifully restored and lovingly repurposed by Airbnb adventurers like you and me.
Over the next few weeks, Frolic Log will be off the grid, vanishing from your inboxes as I embark on my annual frolic to revive my adventurous spirit and uncover a few hidden-gem Airbnbs across Europe.
bon voyage!!