Why should we visit?

This Palladian mansion is amongst the best of the many grand homes built by Willam Adam and its impact lies not just in its fine lines but in its position on a commanding site overlooking the Montrose basin. The gardens that surround it become wilder the further from the house they stretch until they merge with the natural landscape, which is home to many winter visitors from Greenland and Iceland

The estate has several trails that provide good walking during the cold season as well as a chance to spot the area’s extensive wildlife, which includes red squirrels and kingfishers.

Story of the Garden

Following completion of the house in 1743, formal gardens and a large vegetable garden, now defunct, were laid out around it. The formal gardens were further developed in the 19th century and today these have been restored. The ruins of the Castle of Dun, which dates from the 14th century, can still be found in the grounds, along with a bronze age longbarrow that was built by early inhabitants around 5,000 years ago.

Highlights

Roses, peonies and lupins fill the formal gardens in summer and espaliered pear trees and old varieties of apples grow around the walls, but even in winter the pared-back beauty of this carefully-laid-out space is worth exploring.

Don’t Miss

The Den of Dun is a narrow gorge that in spring is bright with rhododendrons and azaleas, while an avenue of giant Wellingtonias stands sentinel in front of the house. The trees, planted 160 years ago, were amongst the first of their kind to appear in this country and they have now reached an impressive height.