Mellerstain House & Gardens | Gordon | Scotland | United Kingdom

Mellerstain House & Gardens

Sightseeing attraction | Gordon | Scotland | United Kingdom

Georgian architecture in Scotland

Mellerstain House & Gardens - An architectural and horticultural gem in the Scottish Borders

Artful gardens in Scotland

Mellerstain House & Gardens, situated in the picturesque scenery of the Scottish Borders, is one of the finest Georgian country houses in Britain. This impressive estate, renowned for its exceptional architecture, intricately designed gardens, and fascinating history, attracts visitors from all over the world.

Historical landmarks Scottish Borders

# The History of Mellerstain House
The origins of Mellerstain House date back to the 18th century. The house was built in two phases: the lower part was constructed in the 1720s based on a design by the renowned architect William Adam, while the final completion in the 1770s was carried out by his famous son, Robert Adam. Robert Adam, one of the most significant architects of the Georgian era, left his unmistakable architectural legacy at Mellerstain House, visible in many details of the building.

Guided tours Mellerstain Gardens

The house served as the seat of the Baillie family for centuries, who still own it to this day. The interiors reflect the elegance and sophistication of the Georgian era, offering a glimpse into the aristocratic life of past centuries.

Cultural events at Mellerstain

# Architectural Highlights
Mellerstain House is one of the few fully preserved works of Robert Adam and is considered one of the finest examples of his neoclassical architecture. The facade impresses with its symmetrical design, while the interior of the house is adorned with intricate plasterwork, elegant rooms, and elaborate ceiling designs.

Particularly noteworthy are:
- The Great Salon - A masterpiece of Georgian interior architecture with a magnificent ceiling, painted wall panels, and elaborate furniture.
- The Library - An impressive collection of books in a magnificent setting that invites relaxation.
- The Dining Room and Bedrooms - Featuring original furniture and tapestries reflecting the elegance of the 18th century.

In addition to these exquisite interiors, Mellerstain House also houses a significant collection of artworks, including portraits, historical paintings, and exquisite furniture from various periods.

# The Award-Winning Gardens and Parkland
The expansive Mellerstain Gardens are a true paradise for garden enthusiasts and provide a perfect complement to the architectural beauty of the house. Carefully designed and maintained in the 19th and 20th centuries, they are now among the most beautiful garden landscapes in Scotland.

Highlights of the gardens include:
- The Italian Terraced Gardens - Featuring geometric flower beds, intricate statues, and elegant water features.
- The Lake and Parkland - A picturesque lake surrounded by a romantic setting, perfect for walking and relaxing.
- Trees and Rare Plants - The expansive grounds are home to a variety of exotic trees and plants that showcase their beauty in different seasons.

Especially in spring and summer, the gardens bloom in full color, while autumn dresses the landscape in warm gold and red tones.

# A Perfect Destination for Culture and Nature Lovers
Mellerstain House & Gardens is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a place steeped in history and natural beauty. The estate attracts a variety of visitors - from history and architecture enthusiasts to garden lovers and walkers seeking to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

In addition to regular tours, the grounds host cultural events, exhibitions, and garden tours that enrich the visitor experience.
Mellerstain House & Gardens Gordon

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Mellerstain House
TD3 6LG Gordon

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday11:00 - 16:00
Monday11:00 - 16:00
Tuesday--
Wednesday--
Thursday--
Friday11:00 - 16:00
Saturday11:00 - 16:00

Reviews

218 Reviews

Andrei Lazanu
30.10.2024

Outstanding house designed by William and Robert Adam. Magnificent Adam interiors, with beautiful furnishings. Visits to the castle are by guided tour only - the tour was very interesting and the guide was well documented. The gardens are also nice.
Taistealaiche
15.10.2024

Lovely, slightly dated holiday cottage’s but with a load of character. Mellerstain House itself is very impressive and the grounds are fantastic. ( the ‘country walks’ could do with a bit of a tidy up ) …. dead branches, nettles, and very uneven ground made the walls a bit hazardous at times. But all in all very enjoyable.
Sharon Donaldson
11.09.2024

Beautiful house. Tour guide knew her subject. Very helpful and friendly. Recommend visiting.
Anne Dyrlaga
08.09.2024

Stayed in one of the estate cottages for three nights. This gave us the added bonus of access to the garden once other visitors had left. The house interior is wonderful and the guided tour was excellent. Lovely small café in a beautiful flower- filled courtyard. Soup, Toasties and a fair selection of cakes and scones. The walk around the lake is worthwhile for the beautiful view back to the house. No advance booking for tickets so not sure if they ever have to turn people away.
John Yates
01.09.2024

First stop, the cafe. Not a great deal of choice but the soup we had was excellent. We walked to the lake and back. It's a bit of a climb . The house tour is a must and our guide was marvellous, full of knowledge. I highly recommend a visit.
Andrew Moffat
19.08.2024

Absolutely amazing place . Been over 44 years since i was last here and its even better than i remembered all that time ago
steve reeves
02.08.2024

Fantastic House and Gardens very informative tour of house by Margaret 4+ hours needed to explore
Marie L
22.07.2024

Une visite guidée en anglais avec beaucoup d'humour, d'anecdotes ! Le lieu est magique, le jardin enchanteur !
Lewis King
21.07.2024

We visited the gardens and cafe. Didn't have time too take house tour. It's a stunning building in a beautiful setting. The gardens are very nicely laid out and well-maintained. A surprise for me, never knew this was here, well with a visit. Plenty interesting walks to be had. Cafe was at a nice spot in lovely courtyard near the front of the house, with a couple of picnic benches outside and plenty of indoor seating. Menu simple, soup, basic toasties, and a number of very nice looking cakes and scones.
Jeep 666
16.07.2024

A lovely place with very colourful gardens on the terraced areas. There is a nice wooded walk down to the lake and around it. They are dog friendly in the grounds, but you need to keep your dog on the lead at all times. Cafe serves very nice cheese scones too. The opening times are a bit confusing as the website is a year out of date (2023).
Sharon Ellaway
13.07.2024

It's absolutely beautiful to walk around. The cafe is lovely. Food is great and staff are very friendly.
William Low
04.07.2024

Lovely walk around the large gardens
Krisje Vd Einden
10.06.2024

Prachtig huis met een hele mooie wandeling in de tuinen/bos. Een juweeltje. Bewoners waren zelf heerlijk in de tuin aan het werk 👏🏻 het huis is open op tijdvakken
Duncan Hothersall
04.06.2024

Beautiful house, stunning gardens, and our guide Margaret was an absolute star. The cafe was lovely too.
Jane Scott
26.05.2024

Way more interesting than I expected and a very gifted tour guide.
sue sudworth
21.05.2024

Excellent visit, Lesley was a fantastic guide, word perfect & very informative
william riley
20.05.2024

Guide was interesting. Walks in grounds good
paul flaherty
11.05.2024

We only experienced the gardens and walks but the grounds are simply stunning, well worth a visit.
Christine Hartridge
05.04.2024

Excellent house and gardens. Thank you to Margaret for a great tour today! Well worth a visit.
Elaine Davidson
26.09.2023

Lovely place with small cafe. Excellent guide.
Jodie Spedding
24.09.2023

We enjoyed our coffee cake and Scones. Don't be fooled to think they are closed as at first glance it looked very dark and empty but getting a bit closer noticed some guests through the window. The grounds are amazing. Loved the fountain out front and on arrival out you got the sense that back in the 1900s that possibly the servants would have been there to usher you out of your carriage and inside. Just a beautiful place.
Marta Skorubska
16.09.2023

Amazing place , castle is absolutely stunning. Guided tour... personally think for some it might be a little bit to much. When the tour started we find out it will take around 1h and 40 minutes. You should see my husband face 🤣🤣 thanks God it easnt that bad it goes quite well but maybe it's worth to consider two types of tours not everyone want to leasten about every paint in the castle and the group I was with end up with people leaving in the middle. It was great that people could sit in most of the rooms . Gardens beautiful but unfortunately unlucky for the weather
Stephanie Harris
01.09.2023

Great Beautiful House & gorgeous gardens!
Stuart Jeffrey
09.09.2023

We have visited many houses throughout Britain, and without a doubt this is the best maintained, beautiful house we have ever been to. The guide was absolutely fantastic and made the tour very informative and amusing. The cafe was very reasonable and the scones were first class with masses of butter, jam and cream. An all over 5 star reasonably priced experience and well worth every penny. All the staff in the house and cafe were very friendly and welcoming.
Craig H
28.08.2023

House and grounds are nice. To access the house, you must be part of a tour.
Doug Jeffrey
17.08.2023

Loved the symmetrical shape and design of the house. Very informative and interesting guide to take us through the house.Lovely gardens and woodland to explore with the dog. Lovely setting and not overly and annoyingly busy.
Magdalena Pietraszuk
14.08.2023

Beautiful place. Excellent guided house tour!
Paul Balshaw
11.08.2023

Great place escorted tour not rushed atound! Plenty to see and the grounds lovely
Laura Markland
07.08.2023

Brilliant tour of house Brilliant tour guide give plenty of information thank you, tour is about hour and a half there are gardens, a lake ,cottage, tearoom,toilets and carpark.
Shayne Gee
27.07.2023

We didn't tour the house, but thoroughly enjoyed the walk through the gardens and around the loch, plus the lovely cafe. The staff were super friendly and really helpful.

 

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