National Trust for Scotland Continuing the National Trust for Scotland's lecture series, in association with LTR, we are delighted to invite you on our 7 night tour commencing 24 September 2005. "The Scottish Castle, from Military Keep to Baronial Splendour".
Day 1 | | Fly to Aberdeen and transfer to Kincardine for a 3 night stay in a Victorian tower house set in the heart of Royal Deeside, where guests will be greeted by the owners Andrew and Nicola Bradford. There will be an introductor Lecture on Scottish Architecture, followed by a welcome dinner. |
Day 2 | | Tour of Craigievar Castle (NTS), generally regarded as one of the finest tower
houses in Britain with superb 16th century plaster work. This building will
introduce us to the typical room arrangement style of the early Scottish castle.
Originally belonging to the Forbes family, it also contains their collection of
20th century studio pottery.
Visit Crathes Castle (NTS), another ancient castle seat of the Burnett family,
with a splendid great hall and long gallery. It contains some of the finest
Renaissance painted ceilings in Scotland. We will also visit its wonderful
walled garden.
Drinks early evening at Towie Barclay with the Ellingtons. A 16th century “LPlan”
towerhouse, altered in the 18th century and now lovingly restored.
Private dinner at Haddo House (NTS), a grand county house built by William
Adam, and refurbished in the 1880’s by Wright & Mansfield in Adam Revival
style for Lord & Lady Aberdeen.
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Day 3 | | Tour of Fyvie Castle (NTS), belonging in the Middle Ages to the kings of
Scotland, lavishly redecorated in the 1890’s by the Forbes-Leith family, and
containing a remarkable collection of portraits.
Visit Duff House (Historic Scotland), a spectacular William Adam country
house, recently extensively restored and used to display part of the collection
of the National Galleries of Scotland.
Explore Castle Fraser (NTS), the most elaborate “Z-Plan” castle in Scotland,
and one of the grandest castles of Mar. Castle Fraser was built between
1575 and 1636 and was the supreme work of two great families of master
masons, Bell and Leiper.
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Day 4 | | Depart Kincardine.
Visit House of Dun (NTS), an early 18th century country house by William
Adam with fine plaster work by Enzer. In the 19th century it was the home
of the illegitimate daughter of King William IV.
Lunch at 17th century Brechin Castle with the Earl and Countess of Dalhousie.
Tea en route in Glasgow, with a short visit to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s
School of Art, a building inspired by Scottish castle architecture.
Arrive at Ardgowan for a 4 night stay, an impressive late 18th century country
house on the Firth of Clyde. Lady Shaw Stewart will be your hostess.
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Day 5 | | Study day at Ardgowan. Lecture on “Scottish Painting”.
Examination of the collection of 19th century furniture by Gillow of Lancaster,
made for the house and a look at the inventories, accounts and other archive
material.
Tea at Kelburn Castle, a medieval castle with later additions, with the Earl of
Glasgow and a short visit en route to the Skelmorlie Aisle, a small renaissance
chapel with fine ceiling painting.
Dinner at Ardgowan
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Day 6 | | Visit Culzean Castle (NTS), a Robert Adam castle in a spectacular position on
the coast of Ayrshire, with fine neo-classical interiors. This is one of the earliest
acquisitions of the NTS. We will also look at Adams’ model farm and gardens.
View Auchinleck (The Landmark Trust), the early 18th century country house
of James Boswell.
Currently efforts are being made to acquire Adams’ Dumfries House, with its
wonderful collection of Chippendale and Scottish furniture, and we hope we
may be able to visit.
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Day 7 | | A private visit to Drumlanrig Castle (the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry), one of Scotland’s finest castles, remodelled in the late
17th century as a Baroque country house. The day will be spent looking at the superb collection of furniture, porcelain and works of art,
and we will have lunch there. There will be ample opportunity to study this wonderful house in depth, and we will also visit the church
at Durisdeer nearby to see the Baroque ducal monuments.
On the way home, we will visit Chatelherault (William Adam eye catcher), a garden building in the park of Hamilton Palace with fine
restored plaster work.
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Day 8 | | Leave Ardgowan
Visit Edinburgh, with a drive through the Old Town to look at the castle, the
ancient High Street leading to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the exterior of
the new parliament building, before touring the early 19th century New Town.
We will end the tour with a lunchtime reception at Wemyss House, the NTS
headquarters. This is in Charlotte Square, the finest example of Robert Adam’s
town planning. Depart from Edinburgh airport.
We can arrange for guests to extend their stay in Scotland if they wish, and
suggest visits or other activities.
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<< Back |
 | | Kincardine, Aberdeenshire |
 | | Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire |
 | | Ardgowan House, Renfrewshire |
 | | Drawing Room, Ardgowan |
 | | Culzean Castle, Ayrshire |
 | | Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire |
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