Lavish entertainment lies at the heart of the restored Kinross House
A stately country home dating back to 1685 with a private loch and island, Kinross House is widely considered to be one of the finest exclusive use venues in Scotland.
Its owners, the Fothergill family, have embarked upon a multi-million pound project with a vision to restore Kinross House to its original purpose - sumptuous and lavish entertainment!
Here, Donald Fothergill tells us more.
How did you discover Kinross House and what inspired you to buy it?
It found us, we didn’t find it! Waking up on the morning of the day we bought it we didn’t even know we were going to see it. What ensued in the following hours was quite extraordinary. Perhaps one of the most beautiful houses in Scotland (and certainly one of the most architecturally important), in complete need of restoration. What wasn’t there to be inspired by!
And thanks to the hard work of the complete restoration team we won the Historic Houses Association & Sotheby’s UK National Restoration Award two years later.
What changes have you made to the property and the estate since you have owned it?
Apart from the complete restoration of the House and Coach House (now additional bedrooms and a boutique Spa), we rebuilt the walled garden and added a glasshouse for guests to enjoy.
We also restored the garden to its original 17th Century design using the original plans and planted 19,000 new plants, shrubs and trees!
It had been turned into an Edwardian garden in 1902, which looked incongruous with the House.
What do you believe makes Kinross House unique?
Firstly, the House itself: the first ever neo-classical Palladian mansion built in Scotland in the first ever designed landscape, deliberately accruing for itself Royal Stuart history by having Loch Leven Castle (still part of the Estate) as the focal point of its main East-West Axis, where Mary Queen of Scots abdicated the throne in favour of her infant son James VI of Scotland, later to be James I of England.
Secondly, the fact that the House has been restored to its original purpose. Sumptuous and lavish entertainment, but with 21st century mod-cons.
Can you tell me some fun facts about Kinross House that many people don’t know?
Well, the House has two libraries: one beautiful old book library and a vaulted whisky library hidden in the depths of the House where guests can enjoy Scotland’s famous tipple.
The Coach House includes a boutique day Spa with hydrotherapy pool, sauna/heat room, three treatment rooms and post treatment relaxation room, and a list of exquisite treatments.
It has a state-of-the-art professional kitchen that can turn out 400 meals per sitting if required.
What is your vision for the property going forward?
Kinross House has to have a purpose if it is going to survive in the long term and so we have turned it into an Exclusive Use property for anyone from around the world to enjoy, offering 5 star personal service, with plenty of helicopter parking!
What are your favourite activities to enjoy when you’re staying at Kinross House?
Fishing, clay pigeon shooting, archery and golf on the course next door; straight through the garden gate!
What are your plans/hopes for 2021/2022?
That travel restrictions are lifted as we get over the pandemic so that we can get back to doing what we do best - sumptuous entertaining.
For more information, visit Kinross House.
For all enquiries and reservations:
Email: info@firstsightestates.com
Or ring: +44 (0)1577 865 626