7 amazing reasons to visit Mount Stuart

This neo-Gothic mansion on the Scottish Isle of Bute is a marvel of architecture and a key centre for the arts

An exterior view of Mount Stuart House. Image: Courtesy of Mount Stuart

Where can you find Mount Stuart?

Head to the east coast of the Isle of Bute, accessible via a 35-minute ferry journey from Wemyss Bay terminal, which is served by a direct train from Glasgow. Mount Stuart House is five miles south of the main town of Rothesay, with a regular bus that drops visitors outside the entrance; this runs annually until the end of October. Bicycle storage and car parking is also available.

The impressive roofline of Mount Stuart. Image: Courtesy of Mount Stuart

Why should you visit?

First there is the house itself. This exquisite example of Gothic Revival architecture was commissioned in the late 19th century by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, following a fire in 1877 that devastated the original building. The design was by Scottish architect Robert Rowand Anderson, who set about creating something that was not only aesthetically spectacular but technologically advanced. It was the first house in Scotland to be wired for electricity. It also has a heated indoor swimming pool, central heating and a lift, all of which continue to function. Then there are the gardens: these include a rockery designed by famed Victorian landscape architect Thomas Mawson, and the pinetums, featuring more than 800 soaring conifers. Importantly, Mount Stuart also prides itself on being a site for the arts. From music to theatre to contemporary art, the cultural programme draws on the Mount Stuart Collection and promotes the best of current visual arts.

The Marble Hall. Image: Courtesy of Mount Stuart

Which elements are a must-see?

Much of the design in the house was inspired by mythology, art and astrology. And one of the key sights is the dazzling 80ft-tall Marble Hall. Gaze up at the ceiling here: it holds a map of the stars, studded with glass crystals. In addition to the Marble Chapel there is an extensive library that holds some 27,000 books covering subjects as diverse as theology, botany, poetry, Scottish history and more.

Artist Alberta Whittle. Image: Courtesy of Mount Stuart

What’s coming up?

Scottish-Barbadian artist Alberta Whittle is the latest figure invited to exhibit as part of the Mount Stuart Contemporary Visual Arts Programme. Renowned for work that explores colonialism, the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and an inherent sense of place, she has been creating a new series of site-specific installations that examine the specific island culture of Bute, the history of the house, and the healing power of indigenous knowledge and waterways. Her exhibition will run from 1 June into August. Final dates to be found soon on the Mount Stuart website (address below). In addition, don’t miss another current exhibition, Comics Uncovered: From Glasgow to Gotham. This covers the fascinating history of comic books, all drawn from the Bute Collection, and is on view until 20 October.

Aelbert Cuyp’s Cattle Watering by an Estuary. Image: Wikimedia

Any artistic connections?

Mount Stuart holds one of the UK’s foremost collections of art, with over 6,000 pieces, featuring some of the great names in the history of art. The 3rd Earl of Bute (1713–92) was an avid collector with a taste for 17th-century Dutch paintings. He amassed work by artists such as Pieter de Hooch, Jacob Jordaens and Jan Steen, with the art of Aelbert Cuyp being especially favoured. The earl was among the first to bring Cuyp’s works to British shores.

The shoreline close to the house. Image: Courtesy of Mount Stuart

Make a day of it!

After visiting the house and taking a stroll around the extensive gardens, take a trip to the ruins of Rothesay Castle, which dates to the 13th century. This former fortress was designed to fend off invading Norwegian forces and features the only circular curtain wall in Scotland. Be sure to check out neighbouring Bute Yard, too, which features local artisan and craft fare from across the island. For those looking for a good walk, the West Island Way is an epic footpath that takes in coastline, farmland, forests, moors and more.

A view of the library. Image: Courtesy of Mount Stuart

Here’s a fun fact…

Within Mount Stuart’s extensive library is a copy of Shakespeare’s first folio, published seven years after his death. This rare book, of which there are approximately 234 known examples, was discovered in the library in 2016. It once belonged to Isaac Reed, a well-connected literary editor working in London in the 18th century.

Find out more
 
See mountstuart.com

Going local

Do you live in this part of Scotland? Then why not join a local Arts Society?

The Arts Society Bearsden & Milngavie – theartssociety.org/bearsden-milngavie

The Arts Society Lomond & Argyll – theartssociety.org/lomond-argyll

The Arts Society Stirling & Forth Valley – theartssociety.org/stirling-and-forth-valley

The Arts Society Ayrshire ­– theartssociety.org/ayrshire

Upcoming lectures include The Treasures of Tanis by Eileen Goulding on 10 June, organised by The Arts Society Bearsden & Milngavie, and From Encaustic to Acrylic: How Paint Made Art by Lynne Gibson on 11 June, organised by The Arts Society Lomond & Argyll.