Douneside House

About the garden

Owned by

The MacRobert Trust

Douneside House is the former home of Lady MacRobert and her family and now operates as an award-winning country house hotel. The gardens were originally laid out by Sir Alexander and Lady MacRobert in the early 20th century, and Lady MacRobert continued to develop and work in the gardens for much of her life. She was a qualified and well-travelled geologist, collecting many plants which she grew and displayed in her rock garden designed by the famous Backhouse Nursery in 1911.

Today, Lady MacRobert’s wonderful horticultural legacy is maintained and developed by The MacRobert Trust. The gardens are a RHS Qualifications Approved Centre and the primary teaching garden of The MacRobert Trust Horticultural Training Scheme, which annually offers six garden trainees full-time practical training placements to advance their chosen career in professional gardening and horticulture.

Extending to 17 acres, the gardens comprise an infinity lawn with spectacular views across the Grampian Mountains; beautifully planted Arts and Crafts terraced gardens with herbaceous, topiary, shrubs and bulbs; an arboretum with mown grass paths; rock-pool gardens and streamside plantings; the Spring Walk where ornamental flowering trees are underplanted with spring-flowering bulbs; a Victorian-style ornamental greenhouse and a walled kitchen garden where a large range of organically-grown vegetables and fruit are produced and supplied to Douneside kitchens.

Beyond the gardens, there are many waymarked trails across the Trust’s 7,200 acre estate for visitors to enjoy. Visitors have access to all parts of the gardens and can enjoy refreshments in Douneside, but advance booking may be required for meals. Visitors may also take the opportunity of staying at Douneside, and visit nearby RHS Partner and other gardens throughout the wonderful Royal Deeside and the North East of Scotland.

Please note: the garden has EV charging points.