House of Dun
Montrose, GBR
Set among Victorian gardens and woodlands, the 18th-century House of Dun is a Georgian house adjacent to the Montrose Basin nature reserve. It’s home to the Hutchison and Stirling collections of paintings and furniture, including works by prominent Scottish artists. It was originally built for David Erskine (Lord Dun), and was home to generations of Erskines until 1947.
Guided tours of the House of Dun last just over an hour—they cover the construction of the home and point out a variety of ornate plasterwork and period equipment, such as a boot bath from the 1800s. The courtyard buildings at House of Dun are also home to the Angus Folk Collection, which celebrates the people of Angus and their agricultural heritage. The surrounding gardens are a must-see, and there’s an extensive network of paths throughout the estate.
Entry into the house is by guided tour only; tours typically run every 45 minutes.
There’s an admission fee for the house, but the gardens are free to visit.
The gardens are suitable for wheelchairs, and the larger estate has several paths that are wheelchair accessible. The first floor of the house is not wheelchair-accessible.
In the autumn and winter months, the surrounding basin attracts tens of thousands of pink-footed geese from Greenland and Iceland.
The House of Dun is located off A935, 4 miles (6 kilometers) west of Montrose and 6 miles (10 kilometers) east of Brechin. It’s a 45-minute drive from Aberdeen. From the Montrose Railway Station or Brechin, take the route 30 bus toward House of Dun Road End; the house is about a 10-minute walk from there.
The house is closed in January and February. It follows opening hours from mid-morning to mid-afternoon throughout the year, but opening days differ depending on the day. From March through June, and September through October, it’s open Wednesday-Sunday. In July and August, it’s open daily; and from October through December, just Saturday and Sunday. The estate surrounding the House of Dun is open daily from early morning until late night, while the formal gardens have shorter opening hours.
About an hour's drive north from the House of Dun, you’ll find the 16th-century Crathes Castle, surrounded by the wooded countryside of Aberdeenshire. The house’s interior maze of turrets and fairytale-like towers comprises oak panels, painted ceilings, portraits, and antique furniture, while the estate encompasses walled gardens and parkland with marked trails.
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