Expoloring the Dumfries House Estate
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Over half term I took the children on a little break away in Scotland, to see my dad and explore the local area. One of the days out we had was to the Dumfries House Estate which turned out to be a real hidden gem.
What is the Dumfries House Estate
The Dumfries House Estate is a free to visit 2,000-acre estate situated around Dumfries House and open every day of the year. It encompasses beautiful woodland, gardens and playgrounds, all managed in a sustainable way.
Where is the Dumfries House Estate
The Dumfries House Estate is under an hour from Glasgow, situated in Cumnock in Ayrshire. Luckily for us, it was only about a 15 minute drive from where we were staying – and we were so glad we visited!
What is Dumfries House
Dumfries House is a unique, 18th century stately home that is the headquarters of The King’s Foundation. The house is only accessible via guided tours which were sadly fully booked when we visited.
The house and estate were saved by King Charles III in 2007, creating somewhere for the nation to experience and enjoy. During a house tour you get to discover the art and furniture within the 18th-century family home, part of the reason King Charles chose to save it and open it to the public.
Parking at Dumfries House Estate
Parking at the Dumfries House Estate costs just £5 for the day – but you can visit on foot for free. Anyone living within a 20 mile radius of Dumfries House can apply for a free parking pass – and I know if we were local we would do this and visit all the time!
Visiting the Dumfries House Estate
There are so many things to see and do across the Dumfries estate and the first thing we came across was the fantastic Adventure Playground. With huge climbing structures and slides, it would be a joy for young children to spend time in – especially in the warmer months.
There is also a smaller play area, including water play, on the other side of the estate near the Education Centre. This area is completely focused on STEM activities and learning through play. I could just tell that any child visiting the Dumfries House Estate would have a great time – with so much to keep them entertained.
Next to the play areas is a fantastic maze which sadly wasn’t open when we visited but would be a great addition to a visit on a weekend or in school holidays – and has just a small extra cost.
We loved exploring the estate and enjoyed seeing the Adam Bridge from the ground and also walking across it – especially as we’d driven over it to get to the car park as there had been road closures to the main entrance when we visited. It’s such a beautiful bridge and an iconic part of the estate.
Our walk took us through the Arboretum, around ponds and along walkways, discovering so many structures along the way and even a geocache! It’s such a beautiful place to explore even if, like us, you have no specific route in mind.
We loved the Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden. This is the only part of the estate that has an entry cost and it’s £3 per person, with tickets booked in the Visitor Centre although this wasn’t open when we visited so we paid on a contactless terminal at the gate.
The Walled Garden covers five acres and has been restored from a derelict area into a beautiful garden with a mix of terraces, greenhouses and topiary. Plus, there’s an Education Garden where they teach young people about horticultural skills, food waste and plant life.
Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014, it’s a wonderful place to explore, on different levels and with so many buildings and structures to look at and enjoy, as well as being able to see the gardens from so many different aspects. We loved it.
Another favourite part of our visit was the Chinese Bridge, where we played pooh sticks before carrying on our walk. Some of this area was pretty muddy so I would suggest walking boots or wellies if you visit over the winter or when the weather has been wet.
There are so many more parts to the Dumfries House Estate that we didn’t get to like the Temple gate, Avenue Bridge, Rothesay Garden and Doocot but it just means we have more to discover on our next visit.
Refreshments at Dumfries House Estate
When we arrived at the Dumfries House Estate our first stop was the Coach House Café where we bought hot drinks for our wander. The service was friendly, the prices were pretty standard and the menu was great – with lots of seasonal specials and local produce.
Next to the cafe there are toilets and the Visitor Centre where you can pick up a map of the estate, book a house tour and find out about the day’s events – as well as buy a souvenir!
The Dumfries House Estate is also home to the Woodlands Restaurant, part of the Hospitality Training Centre, where hospitality students study front-of-house and chef skills. The restaurant is open for Sunday lunch throughout the year. Find out more here.
Staying at the Dumfries House Estate
If you want to make more of your visit, the Dumfries House Lodge offers beautiful guest rooms or luxury self-catering cottages, in the most wonderful of surroundings. Originally built in 1750 and renovated in 2012, it’s a luxury retreat for anyone wishing to explore the estate or more of what south west Scotland has to offer. Find out more here.
We had a great time at the Dumfries House Estate and know that we only really scratched the surface. I’m looking forward to going back in the future to see more of the estate and enjoy it at a different time of the year too – it’s the sort of place that you know will change with the seasons and feel like you’re visiting somewhere completely new.
You can find out more about Dumfries House Estate over on their website and for reference the address is: Dumfries House Estate, Cumnock KA18 2NJ
