Description
Bowhill House & Grounds is a historic estate in the Scottish Borders, combining grand architecture, art collections, and beautiful landscapes. It is home to the renowned Buccleuch Collection, featuring masterpieces by artists like Gainsborough and Reynolds. The attraction is ideal for families, history lovers, and those looking to enjoy both culture and the outdoors.
Visitors can explore the historic house, discover exhibitions, and stroll through landscaped gardens with lochs, terraces, and scenic views of the Ettrick Valley. There are also family-friendly attractions such as an adventure playground with zip wires and slides, soft play for younger children, and walking trails across the estate. The site offers a rich blend of history, art, and nature, with opportunities for wildlife spotting and outdoor activities.
Day ticket prices are £8 for adults and £6 for children, with free entry for under 3s, while annual passes and guided house tours are available at higher rates. Birthday party packages start from £14.50 per child, including soft play or venue hire, with upgraded options at £18.50 per child adding a private film screening and full-day access to the grounds and playground.
Bowhill House & Grounds offers a well-rounded and memorable experience. It blends heritage, outdoor adventure, and family-friendly activities in one location. With its diverse attractions and event options, it provides an enjoyable day out for visitors of all ages.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: Yes
Features
Bowhill House and Grounds
- The Buccleuch Collection: Bowhill’s rich history is complemented by being home to many of the jewels of the Buccleuch Collection. Created over many generations and five centuries by the Montagu Douglas and Scott forebears of the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry, it is internationally recognised as one of the most important in the country. The painting collection is outstanding ranging from an exceptional series of family portraits by Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Joshua Reynolds including the latter’s iconic Lady Caroline Scott as ‘Winter’, to fine landscapes by Claude and Ruysdael, including a set of Italian views by Guardi and Pannini and an exceptional Canaletto of London.
- Bowhill's Rich History: From Border Reivers to Dukedoms. A basic Georgian box to a vast Victorian home. The Scott’s of Buccleuch and Bowhill House have a fascinating story to tell. The present house at Bowhill dates mainly from 1812 and was greatly expanded during the 19th century by architects including William Atkinson, William Burn and David Bryce. Sir Walter Scott, a kinsman and frequent visitor, admired the house so much he christened it ‘Sweet Bowhill’ in his famous poem, ‘The Lay of the Last Minstrel’.
- The Gardens and Landscape: Steeped in history, every aspect of the landscape at Bowhill is there for a reason. Its history and creation can be traced back to W.S Gilpin, the ‘picturesque improver’ with influence from Abbotsford’s, Sir Walter Scott too. From the formal terraces, to the two lochs and tree lined vistas. A stroll on the formal southern terraces opens up stunning vistas across the Ettrick Valley and the upper loch, which was deliberately designed to complement the landscape. Here visitors to the House can also explore a rose garden, formal flower borders and a rock garden.
Attractions
- House Tour: Discover the hidden treasures within Bowhill House. With fascinating stories of the Scotts of Buccleuch, the history of the House and the magnificent works of art from the Buccleuch Art Collection it is a must for history and art lovers. Discover a different side of Bowhill with exclusive access to rooms rarely open to the public. This new tour highlights the private and social spaces of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, Walter Francis, and his wife, Charlotte Anne — key figures of the Victorian era and close friends of Queen Victoria.
- Adventure Playground: Fly down two exciting zip-wires each spanning an impressive 30 metres in length. Explore two embankment slides, one a 12-metre tunnel slide and the other an eight-metre-long open slide – placed on platform towers, connected with a fun rope bridge. Be the King, or Queen, of the Castle in the brand new large wooden fort. Swing until your heart is content on the cross-scales, and tyre swing or start your own band with our musical instruments. All set against the majestic backdrop of Bowhill Country Estate.
- The Soft Play: Bounce, climb, and explore in our fun-filled Soft Play – perfect for little adventurers! Open in line with the Grounds open dates. Morning and afternoon sessions available. Under 6s only – £3 per child.
- Exhibtion: Enjoy the story of the 5th Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch in a dedicated exhibition. Visitors to Bowhill House can see rare Victorian artefacts in Bowhill’s exhibition space. Entitled ‘Love and Respect in the Victorian Age’, it showcases a range of around 70 items including silver, porcelain, jewellery, books and manuscripts, paintings and miniatures. This dedicated exhibition venue at Bowhill enables greater access for visitors wishing to view items from the world-renowned Buccleuch Collection.
The Grounds
- Walking and Hiking: You can explore four way-marked walks of varying lengths, around the stunning landscape of Bowhill Estate. At Bowhill you can wander and wonder on our way-marked trails that vary in distance and terrain. Whether you are looking for a challenging walk up into the hills or a leisurely stroll in the woods, we have more interesting paths than you can shake an oak stick at.
- Wildlife and Biodiversity: The sheer variety of habitats at Bowhill means you can expect to see all sorts of wildlife when you visit. Short-eared owls love to hunt on the high moors and mountain hares zip across the hillside heather. Take a walk along the Yarrow Water and you may well see heron, grey wagtails, kingfishers and dippers out for a spot of lunch. In the mixed woodland and lochs around the house you may spot wintering goldeneye, coal tits, nuthatch and crossbill.
- Fishing: Whether you’re drawn to the flowing waters of a scenic river or the calm surface of a peaceful loch, Bowhill offers a memorable fishing experience for every angler. The River Ettrick, a tributary of the famous River Tweed, winds through the picturesque Ettrick Valley, offering 12 miles of fishing and over 80 named pools across five distinct beats. For those who prefer loch fishing, the nearby Bowhill Lower Loch provides a tranquil setting, regularly stocked with healthy, locally sourced trout.
- Ranger Service: If you want to get more out of the walks, wildlife and woodlands of the Estate, have a word with our Rangers. They’re our resident countryside experts and they keep an eagle eye on a range of flora and fauna, from indigenous trees and wild flowers to red squirrels and bats. Our Rangers are on hand throughout the year to guide visitors on woodland walks. Come along and we’re sure you’ll find their nature knowledge and enthusiasm to be irresistibly infectious.
0.97 miles
