The Most Beautiful Stately Homes In Scotland

Threaded into the otherworldly landscapes, Scotland has an abundance of grand stately homes and snow-capped castles in its architectural repertoire. A whole world of historic buildings with stories as vibrant as their interior embellishments, step into Scotland’s bygone past with our edit of the Scottish stately homes you simply must see.

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Abbotsford House

A handsome home draped in ideas and epiphanies, exploring Abbotsford House and its blissful fragrant gardens is like entering into the subconscious of Sir Walter Scott. Each stone slab, each meticulously picked collectible, each minute yet compelling detail, offers a fleeting snippet of his many ponderings, idiosyncrasies and interests. Described by this prolific 19th-century Scots writer as ‘romance in stone and mortar’, Scott bought the land in 1811 and built the house as we view it today in three stages, before planting tribes of trees and renaming it Abbotsford. As expected, the library is a book-lover’s dream. Live like royalty by booking a stay in a wing of this stately home.

A 19th-century neo-Gothic wonder designed for the 3rd Marquess of Bute, nothing can prepare the senses, the soul and the mind for the celestial beauty encapsulated within Mount Stuart House and its maze of mind-reeling gardens. Praised as one of the most tech-savvy houses back in its day, Mount Stuart is said to host the world’s first ever heated swimming pool. Between the chapel awash with Carrera marble and accompanying Sistine-Chapel-style floors, the series of star-clad ceilings punctuated with constellations decorating the sky like necklaces, and the 80ft-tall (24m) Marble Hall with its rare Italian and Sicilian marble and alabaster, it’s a sight for sore eyes.

Drumlanrig Castle

Set amidst its striking 90,000-acre estate, Drumlanrig Castle is a brooding structure graced with fine symmetry and a captivating presence. As the Dumfriesshire seat of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry, this bonnie castle is applauded as one of Scotland’s greatest examples of 17th-century Renaissance architecture. Affectionately referred to as the ‘Pink Palace’, thanks to its meticulously cut red sandstone, Drumlanrig boasts 17 turrets, 4 towers and 120 rooms and was used as a set in Outlander.

Gosford House

A pocket of respite and beautiful scenery, Gosford House is tucked away along the East Lothian coast. As the seat of the Earls of Wemyss and March, the house basks in the splendour of the 5,000 acres of combined coast and parkland, which includes an exquisite old stone-adorned curling house, striking mausoleum and an Eden-like pond punctuated with an ocean of lily pads. The house, a neo-classical work of art and one of the last celebrated commissions of revered Scots architect Robert Adam, was finished in 1808 for the seventh Earl of Wemyss.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.