- Heritage

Torosay Castle & Gardens

Torosay Castle was completed in 1858 by eminent architect David Bryce in the Scottish Baronial style, and remains a much loved family home. There are 12 acres of superb gardens, including three Italianate Terraces and the Statue Walk, and less formal woodland water gardens, rockery, Oriental and Alpine gardens, with a large collection of rare and tender plants, all offset by dramatic mountain and seascapes. The Castle offers family history, portraits, scrapbooks and antiques in an informal and relaxed atmosphere…

Cawdor Castle

This splendid romantic castle, dating from the late 14th century, was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, and remains the home of the Cawdor family to this day. The ancient edieval tower was built around the legendary holly tree. Although the house has evolved over 600 years, later additions, mainly of the 17th century, were all built in the Scottish vernacular style with slated roofs over walls and crow-stepped gables of mellow local stone. This style gives Cawdor a strong sense of unity, and the massive, severe exterior belies an intimate interior that gives the place a surprisingly personal, friendly atmosphere. Good furniture, fine portraits and pictures, interesting objects and outstanding tapestries are arranged to please the family rather than to echo fashion or impress. Memories of Shakespeare’s Macbeth give Cawdor an elusive, evocative quality that delights visitors. Gardens The flower garden also has a family feel to it, where plants are chosen out of affection rather than affectation. This is a lovely spot between spring and late summer. The walled garden has been restored with a holly maze, paradise garden, knot garden and thistle garden. The wild garden beside its stream leads into beautiful trails through spectacular mature mixed woodland, in which paths are helpfully marked and colour-coded. The Tibetan garden and traditional Scottish vegetable garden are at the Dower House at Auchindoune…

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

Any visit to the Isle of Skye is incomplete without savouring the wealth of history offered by Dunvegan Castle & Gardens. Built on a rock in an idyllic loch side setting, Dunvegan is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of MacLeod for 800 years. Today visitors can enjoy tours of an extraordinary castle and Highland estate steeped in history and clan legend, delight in the beauty of its formal gardens, take a boat trip onto Loch Dunvegan to see the seal colony (voted ‘1 of the Best UK Days Out’ by The Sunday Times Travel Magazine), stay in one of its charming estate cottages, enjoy an appetising meal at the MacLeods Table Cafe or browse in one of its four shops offering a wide choice to suit everyone. There is a wealth of activities in the area ranging from walking, fishing and sightseeing to fine local cuisine, arts and craft and camping at the estate’s Glenbrittle Campsite at the foot of the majestic Cuillin mountain range. Over time, we have given a warm Highland welcome to visitors including Sir Walter Scott, Dr Johnson and Queen Elizabeth II and we look forward to welcoming you. Gardens Dunvegan Castle’s five acres of formal gardens began life in the 18th century. In stark contrast to the barren moorland and mountains that dominate Skye’s landscape, the gardens are a hidden oasis featuring an eclectic mix of plants as you make your way through woodland glades, past shimmering pools fed by waterfalls and streams flowing down to the sea. Having experienced the Water Garden with its ornate bridges and islands replete with a rich and colourful plant variety, you can take a stroll through the elegant surroundings of the formal Round Garden featuring a Box-wood Parterre as its centrepiece. In what was formerly the castle’s vegetable garden, the Walled Garden now features a diverse range of plants and flowers that compliment the attractive features including the stone worked MacLeod Clan Parliament Seating, a water lily pond and a Larch Pergola. A considerable amount of replanting and landscaping has taken place over the last thirty years to restore the gardens to their former glory and provide a legacy which future generations can enjoy…

Painswick Rococo Garden

Unique 18th century garden restoration situated in a hidden 6 acre Cotswold combe. Charming contemporary buildings are juxtaposed with winding woodland walks and formal vistas. Famous for its early spring show of snowdrops. Anniversary maze…

Lennoxlove House

Service, Style and Seclusion. House to many of Scotland’s finest artefacts, including the Death Mask of Mary, Queen of Scots, furniture and porcelain collected by the Douglas, Hamilton and Stewart families. Open to the public and available for events, the House lends itself perfectly to intimate parties offering 11 luxury suites for an overnight stay…

Knebworth House

Home of the Lytton family since 1490, and still a lived-in family house. Transformed in early Victorian times by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the author, poet, dramatist and statesman, into the unique high gothic fantasy house of today, complete with turrets, griffins and gargoyles. Historically home to Constance Lytton, the Suffragette, and her father, Robert Lytton, the Viceroy of India who proclaimed Queen Victoria Empress of India at the Great Delhi Durbar of 1877. Visited by Queen Elizabeth I, Charles Dickens and Sir Winston Churchill. The interior contains various styles including the magnificent Jacobean Banqueting Hall, a unique example of the 17th century change in fashion from traditional English to Italian Palladian. The high gothic State Drawing Room by John Crace contrasts with the Regency elegance of Mrs Bulwer-Lytton’s bedroom and the 20th century designs of Sir Edwin Lutyens in the Entrance Hall, Dining Parlour and Library. 25 acres of beautiful gardens, simplified by Lutyens, including pollarded lime avenues, formal rose garden, maze, Gertrude Jekyll herb garden and the walled kitchen garden. The Dinosaur Trail with 72 life-size dinosaurs set grazing through the Wilderness Walk within the Formal Gardens. 250 acres of gracious parkland, with herds of red and sika deer, includes children’s giant adventure playground and miniature railway. World famous for its huge open-air rock concerts, and used as a film location for The King’s Speech, The Great Ghost Rescue, St Trinian’s 2, Miss Marple and Poirot amongst others…

Breamore House & Museum

Elizabethan manor with fine collections of pictures and furniture. Countryside Museum takes visitors back to the time when a village was self-sufficient…

Port Eliot

Port Eliot is an ancient, hidden gem, set in stunning fairytale grounds which nestle beside a secret estuary in South East Cornwall. It has the rare distinction of being a Grade I Listed house, park and gardens. This is due in part to the work of Sir John Soane, who worked his magic on the house and Humphrey Repton, who created the park and garden. Explore the treasures in the house. Gaze at masterpieces by Reynolds and Van Dyck. Decipher the Lenkiewicz Round Room Riddle Mural. Still a family home, you will be beguiled by the warm atmosphere…

Abbotsford

Abbotsford, situated on the banks of the River Tweed, west of Melrose, is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist, and author of timeless classics such as Waverley, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake. Visitors are able to see Sir Walter’s Study, internationally renowned Library, Entrance Hall, Drawing Room, Armoury, Dining Room and Chapel (built after his death). Gift Shop. Tearoom, Walled Garden. Woodland and River Walks…

Bramall Hall

Bramall Hall is a magnificent black and white timber-framed Tudor manor house with Victorian additions, spanning six centuries and set in 70 acres of parkland. It gives a unique insight into the families and servants who have lived and worked there. A great afternoon out…