Stunning stately homes in Scotland...
As we all get more and more absorbed with the glam lives of the characters in Bridgerton, we’ve found ourselves secretly wondering what it would be like to live in a beautiful stately home, complete with rambling gardens, a butler, and a cook.
So, we set out on a mission to discover some of the most stately Scottish homes to share with you – and to be honest, these are nothing short of breathtaking! Of course, they’re in no particular order – but we’d be interested to know in the comments below which one is your favourite and why!
Let’s dive in!
Mount Stuart
Mount Stuart was built in 1719, but following a devastating fire in 1877, this home was rebuilt and matched the latest Victorian home innovations of the time.
It has evolved into a Victorian property, however, it was originally built in the Georgian style – mod cons in this stately home included a heated swimming pool, a telephone system, and a passenger lift – groundbreaking inclusions for the time. It was also the very first home in the whole of Scotland to be wired for electricity!
The gorgeous interiors in this home sport some incredibly detailed craftsmanship. Look out for the foraging squirrels intricately carved into the paneling in the dining room, as well as the painted mirror in the ladies’ drawing room – each of these beautiful pieces shares a story about the crafters and ultimately about the people that have lived here over the centuries.
Nowadays Mount Stuart presents visual arts displays on the premises and the home and gardens are open to visitors at certain times of the year. Find out more, here.
Abbotsford House
Surrounded by beautiful, fragrant gardens, visiting Abbotsford House is like stepping back in time.
The former home of Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer Sir Walter Scott, who himself described it as ‘romance in stone and mortar,’ this home began its evolution when Scott purchased the land in 1811 and built the house as we view it today.
It was built in three initial stages before the many trees were planted on the grounds. A must-visit is, of course, the library which is any reader or book lover’s dream.
What’s even more impressive is that you can really feel like royalty by booking a stay on a wing in this stunning stately home.
Find out more as well as opening times and dates for Abbotsford House, here.
Gosford House
Tucked away along the East Lothian coast of Scotland, Gosford House is a must-visit.
Resplendently surrounded by over 5,000 acres of coast and parklands, the grounds play home to an impressive mausoleum, a lily pad-filled pond and stone adorned curling house.
The home itself is a neo-classical work of art and was finished in 1808 by revered Scottish architect Robert Adam for the seventh Earl of Wemyss who actually only occupied the house for 12 days before passing away.
Generations came and went and the house was altered and parts of the original wings demolished. During WW2 the British army took over the house and was quite damaged. Now it has been lovingly restored and even plays home to an award-winning golf club – Craigielaw.
Discover more about the house, grounds, and available tours, here.
We hope you’ve found at least one must-visit stately home to add to your Scottish travel/walking itinerary. Have you visited any of these homes before? Comment below and let us know!
We’ll see you on the hills soon, walkers!
The Walkers Club Team
· All images are taken from the official websites listed/linked in this article.