Dumfries House, whose last private owner was the racing driver Johnny Dumfries (John Crichton Stuart, the 7th Marquess of Bute,)  was about to be sold off along with its contents and those contents scattered to the world when Prince Charles – as the King was then – was instrumental in saving it for the nation.

Since then the estate has become a centre for employment – it’s the second biggest employer in East Ayrshire after the Council – and opportunities for young people and others to learn skills and set up enterprises.

Since we were going to be in the area last October we took the opportunity to visit the house and its grounds.

Our first view of the house was from the rear as that’s the bit nearest the car park:

House frontage:-

Closer view:-

The interior is worth seeing with many expensive items of furniture including a Chippendale display cabinet (the guide called it  a bookcase, though.)

The grounds have some quirky architecture, among them a Belvedere:-

Steps leading to Belvedere:-

Belvedere:-

Cute house in the kitchen garden:-

Pagoda (for rest) at end of garden path:-

There was also a pagoda structure inside the maze (which we didn’t enter):-