Opening this month on Edinburgh’s waterfront, Fingal is a five-star hotel with a difference. Occupying a former Northern Lighthouse Board Ship, the floating property has seen the vessel’s interior transformed into a stunning, high-class setting for luxurious city escapes, quirky events and romantic getaways.
Permanently berthed in the Port of Leith, the ship was reimagined as part of a GBP £5 million project by Royal Yacht Enterprises, which included the introduction of 23 luxury cabins, an elegant ballroom and magnificent Penthouse Suite – complete with a spacious outdoor terrace for entertaining or, if you’d prefer, stargazing with a glass of bubbly.
Beyond its beautifully updated interiors, there’s a sense of history running throughout the ship. Apt, as the vessel was once in operation as one of Scotland’s hardest working lighthouse tenders, ferrying equipment and supplies through some of the most treacherous waters in the British Isles. Thankfully, today you are far more likely to stumble across a champagne brunch than a mooring rope, but there is a certain authenticity that comes with Fingal’s maritime heritage and, if you’re planning a trip to the Scottish capital, it’s not one to miss.
