Driving along this coastal road in East Lothian, it's impossible to tell what lies behind the old wall shielding stunted wind blasted trees. |
The gate house - today is open day so we are invited to drive through the front gates! |
In past times formal flower gardens in front of the house were accessed via the terrace. |
The building was originally designed by Robert Adam and built around 1800. Decorative lions,swans,urns and sphinxes are in evidence everywhere. |
This bored looking lion is one of a pair guarding gates to the main entrance below. |
The principal entrance Sorry I can't show the interior and large collections of paintings. As is so often the case, no photography is allowed indoors. |
On the other side,the original main entrance where guests would have alighted from carriages. |
Directly above, a swan stands on a crown, supported by lions and flanked by two sphinxes. |
Sphinx - half woman and half lion. |
The woodlands contain a variety of trees, both old and young. |
Forestry vehicles lurk in the woods like something from the film Avatar. |
Next post - the stables and lily pond ........... Shared with Our world Tuesday Skywatch Friday |
30 comments:
Wow what a great visit...wish we could have peeked inside but just seeing the grounds is amazing.thanks for the tour. Great photos too!
Thanks for a great visit! :)
Superb captures and a great visit!! Thanks for sharing!!
Divine photography of a very elegant place for OWT ~ Such history there ~ Glad the gate was opened!
artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)
Most buildings of that size seem to be owned by the National Trust these days as the upkeep must be phenomenal.
Wow - what stunning scenery and a lovely house.
What an impressive building it is with so much details. Great to see the photos.
What a beautiful place. And your photos are absolutely gorgeous.
You had a great visit, Ruby.
I remember that the historical buildings you introduce us are always grand! It must be a perfect garden to walk there!
Happy days!
Thank you for sharing. It's a lovely place! : )
such a beautiful area, estate, details, photos and more. thank you for sharing your time there.
You are so fortunate to have such beautiful places maintained, whether privately or by a trust. Over here we seem ready to bulldoze everything and then build fake castles and chateaux.
What elegant photos, it would be fun to take a tour of the inside. It makes me think of Downton Abbey, and imagine the situations that might have occurred there. The bored lion guard is so funny! Thanks for the tour.
Lovely photos! The house is grand and impressive, as these large estates usually are, and I think it's beautiful and well proportioned.I would love to look inside, but just walking in the grounds would be delightful.
Best Regards.
Always love visiting Scotland. And I love that old tree! A lot of people around the world are probably watching what's happening in Scotland these days!
what an amazing place! loved the statues, too!
Such a majestic mansion.
Wonderful SWF post!
Great pics and post...
Fantastic mansions. I would love to stay there.
At least one of those lions is eyeing a swan with great interest.
This estate is thrilling to see! Oh MY! I love everything about it...the gardens and the house itself. Wish we could see the inside. It's just stunning. I especially love the bored lion. That's cute.
Very beautiful place and the magnificent mansion. Scotland has many great legacy that I always watch in your pictures. And it remembered me the TV news about voting of independence.
Have a nice weekend!
Wow, amazing palace. What a landscape. Love.
·..✿✿。°
Fotografias fantásticas!!!
Preciosos detalhes da arquitetura e das esculturas.
Ótimo sábado!!!
Bom fim de semana!
Beijinhos.·..✿彡
°。✿⊱。。
What an impressive mansion! I would love to walk around there!
Hello, Forest Dream Weaver.
Great photographing. Design, composition and ideas. Very sweet atmosphere.
Greetings and hugs.
Have a good weekend. From Japan, ruma❃
Dear Ruby - The building is so magnificent, and beautiful, too. It’s nice to know it is privately owned and must have been kept maintenance. The idea of a pair of stone guardian lion at the gate is the same here in Japan – isn’t it interesting? I like the photo of piled-up logs the best among all your nice shots. I’m interested in the result of Scottish independence referendum.
Yoko
I too have often wondered what was behind that wall. What a great post, and photos. That is some 'house'!
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