What Happens When I Arrive?
At Castle Craig, your well-being and safety are our top priorities. This page will provide you with essential information on how to plan your arrival, what to pack and what to expect when you first arrive.
Getting to Castle Craig
For many people, travelling to a residential clinic for a number of weeks is a new experience and it is likely you will have a lot of questions. Whether it is you or a loved one who is coming to treatment, our admissions team will always be happy to discuss your travel options with you and arrange a sober transport chauffeur from the airport or train station.
Most patients choose to be dropped off by a friend or relative, this is very straightforward, simply enter our address in your GPS device and you should arrive here without issues:
Our Address
Castle Craig Hospital, West Linton, EH46 7DH
The reception is signposted and one of our staff members will greet you on arrival.
Edinburgh/Glasgow via Train or Plane
If a patient is unable to be dropped off by car by a friend or relative, then the next most common option is to get here via Edinburgh or Glasgow, both cities are very well connected nationally and internationally by train or plane, and we provide airport pick-ups.
Private Chauffeur Pick-up & Drop-off
Our Admissions team will organise a taxi pick-up from wherever you are in Edinburgh or Glasgow (train station, airport, hotel).
Wherever you’re coming from, we do our best to ensure a safe and smooth comfortable arrival.
How Long is The Drive?
Edinburgh Airport: 45 mins
Edinburgh Waverly (train station): 55 minutes
Glasgow Airport: 75 minutes
Glasgow Central Station (train station): 70 minutes
Sober Transport/Sober Companion
For an additional cost, Castle Craig can organise a trained sober companion to act as a chaperone and accompany a patient from the door of their home and into treatment. This service is especially helpful to those who:
- Are at risk of not making it into treatment.
- Are at risk of getting intoxicated en route.
- Are struggling commitment-wise and need support along the way.
- Are in a very fragile, distressed state and need support.
Coming to rehab can feel extremely daunting, and we find that this service helps ease patients into treatment.
This is an optional add-on, please speak with our advisors if you think this is right for you or a loved one.
Sober Transport Chauffeur Service
Pick-up and drop-off from anywhere in the UK can be organised at an additional cost.
This is perfect for those who want a hassle-free, and comfortable journey into treatment wherever they are in the UK.
This is an optional add-on, please speak with our advisors if you think this is right for you or a loved one.
What Can I Bring with Me?
To make your stay as comfortable and beneficial as possible, we recommend bringing the below items, expand the boxes to see a full list:
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Clothing
- Mix of casual and smart clothing.
- Nightwear, dressing gown, slippers / soft-soled indoor shoes.
- Gym shoes/trainers.
- Outdoor boots/wellingtons.
- Outdoor rainwear / waterproofs.
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Health & Hygiene
- Personal toiletries (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc…).
- Towels are provided by Castle Craig.
- Your own prescribed medication(s) in sealed boxes where possible (these will be assessed upon arrival).
- Vitamin and supplements (must be in sealed containers, these will be inspected upon arrival).
- Hair dryer (PAT tested).
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Miscellaneous
- Cash to meet personal and incidental expenditure. We recommend a maximum of £200 for your stay.
- A credit or debit card.
- Pens, A4 writing pad.
- Postage stamps (optional).
- Sufficient cigarettes in sealed packets for your treatment period (UK Customs allows a maximum of 200 cigarettes either brought in or sent by post to the UK).
- Exemption certificate (HC2) (UK residents in receipt of incapacity benefit).
When You Arrive
Meeting Our Staff
Every patient’s journey begins at Castle Craig’s admissions centre and the first people you meet on arrival are our admissions staff, Andrei and Kristina. They have helped countless people find their way into rehab, and have usually been an integral part of their decision-making process, liaising with family members, assisting in transport bookings, liaising with the doctors and facilitating funding and payments.
On arrival at Castle Craig you will be welcomed by one of the team in the reception room at the admissions centre who will introduce you to the medical staff. You will then begin to meet our medical and detox team – nurses and doctors who specialise in mental health and detox
The next staff you meet will be other patients at the detox centre, this can be a difficult time for many people coping with withdrawal symptoms, and the centre is a quiet place where you can briefly meet other patients at the start of their stay.
Once you are stable you can move to the therapeutic community where you will meet your focal therapist, who will be your therapist for your stay at Castle Craig, and the rest of the community.
Treating Addiction Since 1988
Medical Assessment
Following patient orientation, you are required to meet with one of our on-site doctors – regardless of detox needs.
Before you can begin any part of treatment you must undergo a medical assessment which is carried out by our clinicians. This assessment plays a crucial part in tailoring a personalised recovery plan, highlighting any specific medical or psychological needs and ensuring the safest, most effective treatment protocol.
Patients who require drug detox or alcohol detox may stay at Kirkurd for a few days or longer for closer observation. Your health and safety are our priority, our team of doctors and nurses are on hand to ensure that your path to recovery is as safe as it is comfortable.
A Tour of the Hospital
Once our clinical team deems it safe to do so, patients will be moved from our admissions unit to the main building – Castle Craig. This takes 24 hours for most patients, but this depends on the complexity of detox should it be necessary.
When you first begin your therapeutic journey, you will be assigned a buddy who will give you a short tour and answer any questions you have. Meeting a group of strangers can be a challenge, in the first couple of days you will be finding your way around the various therapy rooms and therapist offices, learning where the gym, fitness centre and dining room are. But it’s good to remember that everyone at Castle Craig will have recently been in your shoes. They know how you are feeling, and they will respond with kindness and understanding.
A member of the nursing team will take you and show you to your accommodation, and you will be assigned a “buddy”. A buddy is a fellow patient who is doing well and has been with us for a few weeks, your buddy will give you a tour of the hospital, introduce you to your peers, show you where the daily timetable is located, and be there as a friend to give assistance where needed.
Our buddy system acts as a great icebreaker for patients who are nervous about attending rehab, and patients likewise love being buddies to others – they know better than anyone what it’s like to come into treatment.
Find Out More
Accommodation | Food & Nutrition | Inside Rehab | After Rehab | Timetable
Experts You Can Trust
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