Kinross House & Gardens

Kinross House was built by Sir William Bruce between 1685-1693 and has glorious views out over Loch Leven to the castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for almost a year (1567-8). The house was described by Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) as being “…the most beautiful and regular piece of architecture, (for a private Gentleman’s Seat), in all Scotland, perhaps in all Britain…” Before even starting to build the house, Bruce had spent the previous six years laying out and planting the gardens which were to be formal in the contemporary Franco Dutch style with terraces, parterres and orchards. For much of the 19th Century, the house lay unoccupied and the gardens overgrown. However, in 1902, Sir Basil Montgomery decided to reoccupy the house and to restore the gardens. He made a formal rose garden, planted yew hedges and laid out lovely herbaceous borders. Kinross House gardens are once again one of the finest formal gardens in Scotland are open to the public.

Address:

Kinross
Perthshire

Click here for more colour, opening dates, admission prices and full contact information.