House of Dun

House of Dun

Considered the finest home of this size to be designed by the renowned Scottish architect, William Adam, the House of Dun boasts stunning plaster ceilings, tapestries and extensive gardens to explore. You can reach it easily on a bicycle as it is less than 4 miles from Montrose train station.

You approach the house down a tree lined avenue. As you go through the archway into the courtyard look up and notice the maker's name and 'Paris' on the clock face. 

House of Dun, tree lined avenue to the courtyard

This is unmistakably Georgian architecture, with perfect proportions and symmetry. Everything matches. The first floor has tall arched windows that let the light flood into the principal rooms.

House of Dun

William Adam, the celebrated Scottish architect, designed the house for the Erskine family. It was inspired by Chateau d'Issy near Paris. Adam had three sons who were also renowned architects and throughout Scotland you will find many of their buildings. The Adam Style was the name given to the integrated interior and architecture design that was practiced by the Adams.
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The main door into the house is framed by four ionic pilasters and an enormous archway. 

Entrance to House of Dun with ionic pilasters

This is one of the tallest doors I have ever seen. I love these giant sized Georgian doors. 

The house was completed in 1743. It took 13 years to build, partly because of the fine plaster work on the ceilings. This is what impressed me the most about the house. Look up and you will see all kinds of things. There are snarling dogs biting deer. There are shells, bagpipes and a violin. It is amazing to discover that the shells are actually real shells, dipped in plaster because this was easier than making shells. Likewise, the violin is a wooden copy, also dipped in plaster.​

Main door into House of Dun

Silent Companion

The violin is not the only surprise in the house. There are also fake doors. The guide asked someone in my tour group to open a door in the hallway. There was a brick wall behind it. Some doors are simply there to create symmetry in a room. Those Georgians were so obsessed with symmetry that they were willing to spend good money on pretend doors!

The house has the expected antique furniture, ornaments and 17th century Flemish tapestries, but I am more interested in the unusual. The 'silent companion', a wooden cutout of a child, is something I had never heard of before. The guide told us that when the Lady of the house was on her own in the parlour she could ask a servant to bring the 'silent companion' for company.

In the servants corridor we stopped next to the bells, which had the names of the rooms next to them. Each bell had a different tone, so that the servants could recognise which room they should go to. The servants would not be able to read. The guide rang a couple of the bells to let us hear the different tones.

View from House of Dun towards Montrose Basin

The house provides sweeping views towards the Montrose Basin, a tidal basin that is a home to many bird species.

​The grounds and gardens are a delight to explore.

Map of House of Dun grounds

Walks in the grounds of House of Dun

House of Dun

My favourite part was the woodland walk with twisting paths, pretty flowers and a river with bridge crossings. It is completely enchanting.

Woodland walk at House of Dun

Coffee and Cake

The cafe at House of Dun is excellent. There is an enticing home baking selection. During my visit I had a chocolate macaroon brownie and was served by a woman with an American accent. "Let me fill that coffee up for you dear. It's all free here. How's that brownie for you? That lovely lady over there made it."

I felt like I was in an American diner. Free coffee refills is a nice touch that you don't find very often in Scotland.

The door to the cafe suddenly blew open and the American lady said, "this blasted wind drives me bats!"

When I paid at the counter I bought some of 'Janet's tablet' to takeaway and dropped some coins in the Victoria bedpan they had for tips. I commented to the American lady that it looked like it was going to be a busy day in the cafe and she said, "I hope so, we do enjoy serving people."

​House of Dun is a National Trust property and there is an entrance charge.

The Caledonian Railway is a short distance away from House of Dun. You can ride on steam trains to Brechin. Read my blog about the railway.

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How to get there
Take a train to Montrose. It takes around 1 hour, 40 minutes to 2 hours from Edinburgh or Glasgow, depending on which train service you travel on. It is a 3.8 mile cycle from Montrose station to House of Dun, so a day trip visit to the house is a possibility.

The Montrose Basin Cycle Route will take you there, mainly alongside the A935 on a segregated path or on the pavement. The map shows the route to the Caledonian Railway and the House of Dun is marked with the castle symbol.

The Montrose Basin Cycle Route is an excellent example of forward thinking by a local authority. The busy A935 makes it daunting to come here on a bicycle, but by making the pavement shared pedestrian and cycle path it has opened up the area to cycle tourism. Some parts of the pavement are very narrow with little space for bikes and people to pass, but they have made the best use of the existing infrastructure to ensure that it is viable to cycle safely in this area.
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Other things to see and do

Take the Montrose Basin Cycle Route all the way around Montrose Basin. This is about 10 miles and means that you can do a circular route from and to Montrose station. You could pop in to the Montrose Basin Visitor Centre.