Kinross House Estate - The incredible restoration of one of Scotland’s most significant properties

thank you [Music] I had no idea I was coming to Kinross house until about 20 30 minutes before I got here I'm absolutely sure that my need in craving for a coffee at that moment in time 25 miles north of north of Edinburgh was because the house could tell I was driving by and was going to NAB me before its best chance of restoration disappeared down the A1 kin Ross house after 330 years is still almost shockingly new set in formal Gardens planted in 1675. full 10 years before the foundation stone of kinra's house was laid so the gardens would be mature by the time the house was completed the house is at the center of a unique Inland Maritime estate combining a national Nature Reserve the largest lock in the lowlands one of the most important medieval castles and the first neoclassical palladian mansion ever built in Scotland all woven together in the first designed landscape in Scottish architectural history often referred to as the jewel in Scotland's architectural crown Sir William Bruce The house's architect and first owner was many things he was instrumental in the restoration of the monarchy father of Scottish classicism and was known as the Christopher Wren of the north the kit of the north kinro's house is itself a testament and Monument to him [Music] well it didn't take a genius to work out that the house needed a thorough going restoration as I walked around the first time indeed just before I agreed to buy it it became very apparent to me that this was going to very rapidly become a true labor of love love is never rational and so that was the very same thing with the house here when I first spoke to the uh my professional team Architects Builders Consultants of All Sorts they thought it would take about three years I just thought well three years is a long time so we actually did it in in 18 months but that took a huge amount of planning the whole roof came off we dug underneath the whole house by a meter to put in new Services trenches were dug from the town to deal with new electrics new water all 135 140 Windows taken out either replaced or refurbished a massive massive undertaking when my father told me that he'd bought this uh this magnificent estate I couldn't quite believe it to be honest with you and I remember walking through the front doors for the first time and being a totally Spellbound despite these um these Grand appearances I think it's a place where you immediately feel incredibly comfortable and relaxed and at ease and that's why I just treasure every single moment that I get to spend it what makes Kindle sounds unique it's just simply the fact that there are so many opportunities for amazing activities available here just on the doorstep we've got two 18-hole golf courses we've got some Andrews 40 minutes away up the road the thing I enjoy most I think has to be the biennial cricket match that I've been putting on now for a number of years against the local kinros Cricket Club great fun we have a barbecue afterwards as well to celebrate we have amazing competition standard fishing on the lock we have the Castle Island on which stands Loch leaving castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in the 1560s a huge cultural and historical significance in Scotland a slightly further afield is since surf's Island and 90 acre Island on the log where either remains of a 9th century Monastery which has now turned into a wonderful nesting ground for all sorts of rare and beautiful birds quite apart from the fact that my father has been able to restore the house in the way he has I do find it remarkable that he also had the vision to restore the Coach House which was the Stables formerly where guests can enjoy head to toe body treatments and where we also have the wall Garden in which we grow our own vegetables and our own Orchard from which we make our own cider my vision for the property is now 10 years after having bought it and restored it the same as it was then namely using it to entertain luxuriously and sumptuously coming to the gates brings a smile to your face and you immediately get a sense of the history and the magnificence of the Estates to have the close relationship that I do with the house is a real privilege and it's one that I'm usually excited to develop over the years to come foreign [Music]

Channel: Kinross House Estate

Views: 281,531

Keywords: kinrosshouse, kinrosshouseestate, heritage, scotland, scottishproperty, scottishestate, exclusive use, exclusive use venue

Id: 44z0MOwwyjM

Length: 4min 53sec (293 seconds)

Published: Mon Apr 17 2023