Leith Hall, Garden & Estate NTS

Leith Hall, Garden & Estate NTS Leith Hall was built over three centuries, starting in 1650, and remained the home of the Leith-Hays.
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Built in 1650, Leith Hall was very much a family home, lived in, used and altered to meet the family’s needs for nearly three hundred years. The Hall, gardens, wider estate and much of the original collection came to the Trust in 1945. Never having been sold and remaining in the same family for ten generations, it offers a rare glimpse of the changing aspirations, needs and tastes of the middle-ra

nking gentry and a fascinating insight into the Leith-Hay family. The stunning gardens here are one of the Trust’s hidden gems. From the top of the garden there are spectacular views of Aberdeenshire and the surrounding hills. At 186m above sea level it is the highest altitude garden in the National Trust for Scotland's care and boasts a coldest recorded temperature of -28oC! But the south-facing slope of the garden makes it an ideal location for many plants from all over the world to thrive. The remarkable herbaceous and catmint borders that run either side of the zigzag path are one of the longest of their kind in Scotland, at nearly 100m. Other features include the rock garden, vegetable garden and the Moon Gate – a rare focal point along the wall of the east garden. Leith Hall estate also has a lot to offer any visitor with three well marked trails through gorgeous scenery packed full of wildlife that is easy for you to see at any time of year. Take a relaxed walk around the pond and take a minute to sit and enjoy the view or take a detour up to the bird hide to see the upper pond where ducks like Teal overwinter. Make sure to look out for signs of the Otter that occasionally visits. For a longer walk the Kirkhill trail will take you out to some of the surrounding countryside and you'll have a chance to explore the history of the Leith-Hay family in the old kirkyard. A trip up the Craigfall trail will treat you to an overall view of the Leith Hall estate along views over to Tap o'north, Dunnydeer hill and Bennachie. Keep an eye out on this page for all the events that are happening over the coming season!

📜 Book of the Week!This week's selection is A Practical Treatise on the Prevention and Cure of Smoky Chimneys, presented...
14/06/2026

📜 Book of the Week!

This week's selection is A Practical Treatise on the Prevention and Cure of Smoky Chimneys, presented by its author to Andrew Leith-Hay, sixth laird of Leith Hall.

Historic libraries are often associated with grand literature and scholarship, but they also preserve the everyday concerns of their owners. In this case, a volume devoted entirely to solving the persistent problem of smoky chimneys. Nearly two centuries later, the book remains at Leith Hall, while Andrew's portrait still hangs, appropriately enough, above the fireplace in the library; a fitting reminder that even lairds had to contend with mundane domestic frustrations.

As part of ongoing collections care at Leith Hall, our team are currently cataloguing, cleaning, and assessing the condition of the historic library collection. Visitors can observe this process taking place on Fridays in the Oval Room.

💛🌾An annual excitement at Leith Hall - the Pyrenium Lilies are flowering! Take a stroll around the pond walk to see them...
11/06/2026

💛🌾An annual excitement at Leith Hall - the Pyrenium Lilies are flowering!

Take a stroll around the pond walk to see them, and stop by Henrietta's tearoom for something tasty.

This weekend's specials include;

🍎 Apple Chutney, Brie and Bacon Toastie
🌿Cheese and Lovage Scone (Wheat Free also available)

💛The Hall and Henerietta's Tearoom are open Thursday - Sunday, 10:30 - 15:30.

📜 Book of the Week!This week’s selection is an 1819 edition of James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson, one of the mo...
06/06/2026

📜 Book of the Week!

This week’s selection is an 1819 edition of James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson, one of the most celebrated biographies in the English language. The volume includes a facsimile of the famous "Round Robin" petition: a circular document signed by members of Johnson’s literary circle requesting revisions to the epitaph he had written for Oliver Goldsmith, which they felt was insufficiently complimentary.

The signatures were deliberately arranged in a circle so that no individual appeared first in challenging Johnson directly; a tactful solution when dealing with one of the most formidable literary figures of the eighteenth century.
The volume preserves not only the life of Johnson himself, but also the friendships and tensions of London’s literary world.

As part of ongoing collections care at Leith Hall, our team are currently cataloguing, cleaning, and assessing the condition of the historic library collection. Visitors can observe this process taking place within the house on Fridays and see conservation in action.

Leith Hall is open to visitors from Thursday - Sunday. The gardens and estate are open every day.

🌦️With the changeable weather it's good to have something you can rely on... We have carbs! This weekend's specials inc...
05/06/2026

🌦️With the changeable weather it's good to have something you can rely on... We have carbs!

This weekend's specials include;
🌿Plantain, Dandelion, Maple Syrup & Brie Toastie
🍎Venison Chilli, Apple & Chocolate Toastie (with or without cheese)

🍓We also have Barra Berries strawberries for our scones, also available wheat free, and vegan (with rhubarb from the garden).

Henrietta's Tearoom is open Thursday - Friday, 10:30 - 15:30.

The hall is open, with guided tours at 10:30, 12:30 & 14:30, and open guiding between 11:00 & 14:00.

✨We are now open from Thursday - Sunday ✨Visit this summer and discover Leith Hall for yourself! Leith Hall has played w...
02/06/2026

✨We are now open from Thursday - Sunday ✨

Visit this summer and discover Leith Hall for yourself!

Leith Hall has played witness to Scottish history since 1650. The Leith-Hay family donated the house to the National Trust for Scotland along with all their furnishings and art, making it one of the most complete collections in our care. Outside, the beautiful grounds are one of the Trust’s hidden gems and contain an authentic Edwardian garden.

🏰Leith Hall
Guided Tours 10:30 / 12:30 / 14:30
Open Guiding 11:00 - 14:00

🍰Henrietta's Tearoom
10:30 - 15:30

🌿The gardens & estate are open everyday

Leith Hall Books ✨An exciting new project is underway. As part of ongoing collections care at Leith Hall, our team are c...
29/05/2026

Leith Hall Books ✨An exciting new project is underway. As part of ongoing collections care at Leith Hall, our team are currently cataloguing, cleaning, and assessing the condition of the historic library collection. Visitors can observe this process taking place on Fridays in the Oval Room

During this project we will do a weekly post highlighting some of the exciting, strange, or just generally interesting books they discover along the way!

📜 Book of the Week!

This week’s highlight is a 1707 edition of Virgil’s collected works, retaining a beautifully hand-painted engraved frontispiece. Colouring of this kind was often carried out by children employed within the printing and book trades at the time, as the work was considered relatively simple and the labour inexpensive.

The volume also contains a handwritten ownership inscription by Alexander Stuart, dated 1724. Stuart later became an important figure in the history of Leith Hall; his daughter Harriot married John Leith III, fourth laird of Leith Hall, and the estate was ultimately preserved through the income and inheritance Stuart settled upon her.

Alongside its classical text, the book preserves evidence of family history, education, and use across more than three hundred years.

The bluebells were looking particularly fine this morning! Check them out along the pond walk. In Henrietta's tearoom w...
29/05/2026

The bluebells were looking particularly fine this morning! Check them out along the pond walk.

In Henrietta's tearoom we've stocked up on our wheat free scones.
🍓Rhubarb & Strawberry
🌿Lovage, Cheese & Wild Garlic Flowers

Our toasties can also be wheat free! This weekend's specials include;
🩷Rhubarb, Brie & Bacon

Open now 10:30 - 15:30. From June the hall and tearoom are open Thursday - Sunday!

Be wary of your fellow dinner guests This summer there will be a Mactraitor hidden amongst you! On Saturday the 27th of ...
24/05/2026

Be wary of your fellow dinner guests This summer there will be a Mactraitor hidden amongst you!

On Saturday the 27th of June, the Music Room at Leith Hall is the stage for MacTraitors Murder Mystery Meal from The Tentpeg Murderers - Scotland’s Oldest Murder Mysteries!

Tickets include a drink of your choice on arrival and a two course meal.

Grab yours now - before its too late...

💙💙💙The bluebells are looking glorious, there are rumours of lovely weather, and we have some delicious specials for you ...
21/05/2026

💙💙💙The bluebells are looking glorious, there are rumours of lovely weather, and we have some delicious specials for you to enjoy. Sounds like the makings of a good weekend! 💛💛💛

This weekend's specials include;

🍓Rhubarb and Strawberry Scones
🍋Nettle and Lemon Cake (with homemade lemon curd)
🫜Pulled Pork, Rhubarb and Cheese Toastie

Leith Hall and Henrietta's Tearoom are open Friday - Sunday, 10:30 - 15:30. Access to the hall is by guided tour at 10:30, 12:30 & 14:30 and open guiding between 11:00 and 14:00. We look forward to your visit!

👩‍🍳👨‍🍳We're Hiring! 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳Come and join the lovely team of Henrietta's Tearoom. Named in honour of the last lady of Leit...
18/05/2026

👩‍🍳👨‍🍳We're Hiring! 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳

Come and join the lovely team of Henrietta's Tearoom. Named in honour of the last lady of Leith Hall, we use fresh seasonal produce from the garden as much as possible.

We are looking for someone for two days a week, including a weekend day. The tearoom is open Thursday - Sunday, June - September. Contract is till October but there is the opportunity to extend into winter.

Apply via the link below!

https://www.nts.org.uk/volunteering-jobs/job-search/north-east

Address

Leith Hall
Kennethmont
AB544NQ

Opening Hours

Thursday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Friday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Sunday 10:30am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+441464831216

Website

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