Category guide
Historic houses in Scotland
Stately homes and historic houses with furnished rooms and family trails.
These sit between a castle and a museum — furnished period rooms rather than ruins, usually with servants' quarters or below-stairs areas that tend to interest kids more than the grand rooms do.
Most have decent grounds attached too, so a quieter half hour indoors can be followed by more space to run outside.
Read our guide: The best rainy day activities in Scotland
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Scottish Borders
Abbotsford House
Historic home of Sir Walter Scott with gardens, museum exhibits, and scenic walks along the River Tweed.
Angus And Dundee
House of Dun
Georgian mansion near Montrose with period rooms and walled garden.
Scottish Borders
Bowhill House and Country Park
Borders estate with adventure playground, woodland trails and a Victorian house.
Scottish Borders
Traquair House
Said to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland, with a maze and brewery.
Ayrshire And Arran
Dumfries House
18th-century estate near Cumnock restored by The King's Foundation, with an adventure playground and farm shop.
Scottish Borders
Mellerstain House
One of Scotland's great Georgian houses near Gordon, built by architects William and Robert Adam.
Scottish Borders
Manderston House
Lavish Edwardian country house near Duns with 56 acres of formal and informal gardens.
Scottish Borders
Paxton House
Georgian house near the English border with parkland, a play area and a nationally important art collection.