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The Georgian architectural influence in Scotland is nowhere better reflected than in two places, the first of which has to be the New Town in Edinburgh. The second is more rural, with an urban overlay, of fine country houses, often surrounded by vast parklands, of which Arniston is a excellent example, built in a country where space was often not really a problem.

Arniston was built by William Adam, father of Robert, and John who completed the work in the 1750s, for the Dundas family who have lived at Arniston for over four hundred years. Only 11 miles from the centre of Edinburgh it would have been a fine home for a nobleman who wished to exercise influence in the upper echelons of the government his country. In the 1700s family members held the appointments of Solicitor General, Lord Advocate for Scotland and Lord President of the Court of Session.

It was Robert Dundas, 3rd Lord Arniston who commissioned William Adam in 1726 to design a replacement for the doubtless draughty old tower house. By the 1760s the whole house was complete. The stunningly intricate plasterwork is a tour de force. In the 1950s dry rot was discovered in the west wing which included the John Adam dining room and drawing room. After a long battle, involving the gutting of the west wing, the house is now as originally intended and offers a wonderful opportunity to see some of the best work of the lesser known, but in many ways equally talented family Adams.

Amongst the country houses of Scotland, Arniston is in a class of its own as a much loved, intimate and very lived-in family home, and family members take a lead role in the showing of the house and recounting its history. It is made very easy to imagine it as the retreat to which the leading members of one of Scotland’s greatest legal families returned after lending their skills and experience to the process of law in nearby Edinburgh. Family portraits by Henry Raeburn and Allan Ramsay are highlights in a remarkable collection that hangs at Arniston, all part of a guided tour that takes about one and a half hours.

Given fair weather, the grounds are well worth exploration and have clearly been designed to show the house to best advantage.

Opening Timings - 2010:

House:
May - June: Tuesday and Wednesday with tours leaving at 2 pm - 3.30 pm
July - 12th September: Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday with tours leaving at 2 pm - 3.30 pm
Entry is by guided tour only. Tours take around an hour and a half to complete. Parties of between 10 and 50 are welcomed by prior arrangement.

Admission Charges - 2010:

Adults - £6
Child - £3
Concession - £5.