Day 4 - Mount Stuart
Today, a short ferry crossing takes us to the Isle of Bute,
where we visit one of the world's most spectacular Victorian Gothic
mansions, Mount Stuart. The ancestral home of the Marquesses of
Bute was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson for the 3rd
Marquess of Bute in the late 1870s. The house is the seat of the
Stuarts of Bute, direct male-line descendants of John Stewart, the
illegitimate son of King Robert II of Scotland, the first Stuart
King.
The main part of the house provides a stunning example of Gothic
Revival architecture and features stunning red stone walls, a
Marble Hall with a map of the stars on the ceiling and an elaborate
Marble Chapel, complete with a spiraling spired tower. The two
wings of the home are built in a contrasting Georgian architectural
style and continue to impress with their luxurious furnishings and
innovative design. Outside, 300 acres of gardens offer a glimpse at
the living history of Mount Stuart, as some of the smaller gardens
were first planted over 300 years ago. We enjoy an afternoon tea
here, relaxing on the charming grounds of this heritage home.
Overnight Stonefield.
Includes