Craighall Castle

Located in Perthshire, Craighall Castle is a historic building dating back to the early 1500s. As with many properties of this age, the property presents a number of challenges, particularly in terms of heating system design and performance. The layout and infrastructure are complex, with a configuration described as being more similar to a district heating scheme than a conventional system. Combined with the castle’s remote location and exposure to harsh winter conditions, maintaining a reliable and efficient heating solution is critical.  

The project began with a direct enquiry, after the existing biomass boiler system, which had been installed prior to Hoval’s involvement, failed and was deemed beyond economical repair. Following the initial contact in early December 2025, we provided catalogues and technical specifications and arranged a site visit for the following week. Taking a consultative approach to fully assess the requirements, understand the unique characteristics of the building and build a strong and relaxed working relationship with the customer. This ultimately led to the selection of the UltraOil 250 boiler as the most suitable solution. 

One of the key challenges of the project was the urgency of the situation, with winter conditions at their harshest and no reliable heating system in place. In addition, the complexity of the building and its unusual system configuration required careful planning and expertise. The location of the site also meant that ongoing reliability and ease of monitoring would be essential for long-term peace of mind. 

Hoval responded quickly to these challenges. The order was placed on Christmas Eve 2025, with delivery achieved in February 2026, ensuring minimal downtime during a critical period. Throughout the process, consistent communication kept the customer fully informed and reassured. The boiler was installed in mid-February, with commissioning completed successfully soon after. Although some issues arose as a result of installer errors, Hoval engineers worked closely with the customer and installers to resolve them quickly and effectively. To further support the system, the HovalSupervisor cloud solution was implemented, allowing remote monitoring and control of the heating system from anywhere in the world. 

Since installation in March 2026, the UltraOil has delivered strong and reliable performance. The customer reports that the system is operating very well, with a high level of robustness and efficiency. Despite the complexity of the setup, the boiler has integrated successfully and is running smoothly following optimisation by Hoval engineers. Importantly, the system is achieving approximately 20% lower fuel consumption than previously estimated, demonstrating a clear improvement in efficiency. 

John Reynolds OBE FIET, our main contact for this project at Craighall Castle, has expressed a high level of satisfaction with both the product and the overall service provided by Hoval. From the initial consultation through to commissioning and ongoing support, the team was described as responsive, proactive, and genuinely committed to building a long-term relationship. He particularly valued the speed of problem-solving, the willingness to provide continued advice, and the effort made to fully understand their requirements. Overall, the experience was summarised simply as “a great product and great service,” with a strong endorsement and recommendation for Hoval in similar applications.

This project highlights Hoval’s ability to deliver tailored heating solutions in complex, historic environments, even under tight time constraints. By combining technical expertise with a customer-focused approach, Hoval successfully provided a dependable, efficient, and future-ready heating system suited to the unique demands of this remarkable property.