Scotland: Country Houses, Craftsmanship, and Collections

EVENTS > STUDY TRIPS ABROAD

The Scots wrought a magnificent culture upon a beautiful and rugged landscape, witnessed today by exploring centuries-old manor houses and the vibrant cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Impressive architecture and splendid collections come to life as expert guides and curators share grand estates and artistic treasures from Ayrshire and the Firth of Clyde to the Lothians and the Firth of Forth and then down to the Borders. The itinerary also offers a special chance to explore a range of noteworthy commissions by William, Robert, and John Adam. Access to private residences, talented historians, and a wee dram of whisky stimulate enriching conversations with fellow travelers as we gain a deeper appreciation for Scottish history and decorative arts, including the plentiful connections to 18th-century America as part of our nation’s Semiquincentennial year.

June 4 and 18

We gather in the heart of Glasgow at the Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa. The square’s charming green is fronted by garden terraces and picture-perfect early-19th-century townhomes, all carefully restored. Conservation architect Niall Murphy sets the stage with an introductory lecture on the development of Glasgow’s built environment followed by a walking tour that includes two sites connected to the city’s most prominent architects: Alexander “Greek” Thomson’s St. Vincent Street Free Church and Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Willow Tearooms. The orientation concludes at The Glasgow Arts Club with a welcome by the president, Robert Ferguson. Returning to the hotel, we indulge in a convivial opening reception and dinner.

Overnight: Glasgow
Included: R, D

June 5 and 19

Our morning begins with a ride to the Ayrshire coast southwest of Glasgow. Rising from a landscape of wooded cliffs, Culzean Castle stands as a masterpiece of late-18th-century country house design from renowned Scottish-born architect Robert Adam working in his Castellated style. The distinctive oval staircase, soaring colonnades, and panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde provide a breathtaking backdrop to the exquisite decorative arts collection. We continue inland to the storied Dumfries House for lunch followed by a special tour with Charlotte Rostek, Curator Emerita. An unparalleled example of Palladian architecture by John Adam, Robert’s older brother, the house still holds many of its original 18th-century furnishings, most notably a staggering collection of works commissioned from Thomas Chippendale. We wrap up the day with time surveying the gardens and the Kuanyshev Traditional & Craft Skills Centre, where students learn the masonry, plastering, and painting techniques required to care for historic buildings.

Overnight: Glasgow
Included: B, L

June 6 and 20

Just south of Glasgow awaits Holmwood House, another gem by Alexander Thomson. Built 1857–58, this elegant edifice showcases his passion for Grecian style through visual symmetry, lavish decorations, and playful color schemes. Traveling northwest through the rolling lowlands to the village of Kilmacolm, we arrive at a privately owned residence designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in his signature Glasgow Style. This Scottish interpretation of Art Nouveau is characterized by Modernist simplicity, sharp right angles, and use of natural materials. After lunch, Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes us to Ardgowan, where the grounds have witnessed a Viking ambush, witch trials, brushes with Napoleon, and the adaptation of the handsome, late-18th-century house for hospital use during both World Wars. We enjoy tea with our host before returning to Glasgow.

Overnight: Glasgow
Included: B, L

June 7 and 21

Our transition from Glasgow to Edinburgh begins with a scenic ride southward to the region of Dumfries and Galloway. Hewn from red sandstone and affectionately called the Pink Palace, Drumlanrig Castle is the central property of the Duke of Buccleuch. Our focus is drawn to the exemplary 17th-century Renaissance architecture and the family’s superb collection, amassed over the course of 500 years and renowned for the holdings of furniture, silver, tapestries, porcelain, and paintings. We admire the gardens after lunch before continuing to Edinburgh. After checking into the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, our superb accommodations overlooking a picturesque garden square, we delight in dinner shared at a highly regarded local eatery.

Overnight: Edinburgh
Included: B, L, D

June 8 and 22

The Neoclassical architecture and stately plan of Edinburgh’s New Town create an ideal Georgian city district, which we reconnoiter during an orientation tour with Alastair Learmont, a historian of Scottish culture. At the National Museum of Scotland, Stephen Jackson, Senior Curator of Furniture and Woodwork, provides a thorough introduction to the unparalleled collection. Traveling eastward along the Firth of Forth, we pause for lunch at Greywalls, a charming Edwardian estate with a restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Albert Roux. At nearby Gosford House, the family seat of the Charteris family, the Earls of Wemyss and March, we are led on a bespoke study of the Robert Adam-designed country house by David Jones, retired professor of furniture history at St. Andrews. Upon returning to Edinburgh, we are whisked away for an exclusive, out-of-hours visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch since the 16th century, where we focus on the illustrious past of this legendary palace and its regal furnishings.

Overnight: Edinburgh
Included: B, L

June 9 and 23

Our morning begins in West Lothian with a memorable viewing of the palatial Hopetoun House, which cuts a striking image as one of Scotland’s most iconic country estates. Constructed 1699–1701, this handsome Palladian edifice was designed by Scottish architect Sir William Bruce by commission of Lady Margaret Hope, whose descendants continue to reside here. Crossing the Firth and traveling northeast into Fife, we are welcomed for lunch at an impressive private house, a late-16th-century residence that was expanded in the 1830s by Wiliam Burn, a pioneer of the Scottish Baronial Revival style. Our hosts share insights into the material legacy of their family home, which includes an excellent collection of fine and decorative arts and books. After returning to the hotel for a brief respite, we gather for a lovely dinner at a historic Old Town venue.

Overnight: Edinburgh
Included: B, L, D

June 10 and 24

Nestled among Old Town’s Medieval walkways and Reformation-era spires awaits Dovecot Studios, a tapestry workshop established in 1912 by the 4th Marquess of Bute, who recruited weavers from William Morris’s workshops at Merton Abbey in London. Hosted by Director Celia Joicey, we observe the harmony of traditional craft, contemporary design, and internationally renowned artistic expertise. Just southeast of Edinburgh, we visit The Drum for lunch and a tailor-made tour. Dating to the early 18th century, The Drum exhibits William Adam’s pristine Palladian symmetry, belying the exuberant Rococo finishings and plasterwork found inside. Further south lies Arniston House, a near-contemporary edifice by Adam, where Henrietta Dundas continues her family’s commendable stewardship that extends back to 1571. Extensive restoration projects have ensured its survival for generations to come, with splendid interiors and furnishings under thoughtful protection. Both Drum and Arniston are working estates, actively involved in their communities through partnerships, fundraising, farming, and wildlife conservation.

Overnight: Edinburgh
Included: B, L

June 11 and 25

Our final day in Scotland includes an extraordinary trio of houses in the Borders region. Nestled against the River Tweed, Paxton House stands among the region’s finest Palladian buildings and contains one of the preeminent collections of furniture documented to Thomas Chippendale Senior and Junior. David Jones and Curator Fiona Salvesen Murrel offer a detailed introduction to the important decorative arts contained within. Carolside is the Foyle family’s delightful and serene 18th-century estate situated in the bend of the River Leader. Our hosts welcome us for lunch and a walk through the grounds, known for its roses and oval walled garden. Driving northwest to Duns, we are treated to privileged entry at Mellerstain House, wrought by William and Robert Adam, and an early example of Robert’s Castellated style. Generations of the Baillie family amassed an impressive collection of paintings by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Ramsay, and other Old Masters, which are complemented by a fantastic assemblage of decorative arts, about which David Jones offers insight. Concluding an unforgettable exploration of Scotland’s bustling cities and romantic countryside, we bid each other farewell during a celebratory Robert Burns dinner at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Housed in an elegant Georgian building with winsome views of the Firth of Forth, this is the perfect venue to close our travels and toast “Slàinte mhath!”

Overnight: Edinburgh
Included: B, L, R, D

June 12 and 26

Guests depart for stateside connections or continue with independent travels.

Included: B

Land Arrangement Cost: $10,625 per person, based on double occupancy for 9 nights.

Included in Trip Cost: Hotel accommodations in 4-and 5-star hotels, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 2 receptions, and 4 dinners. Private coach transportation, local guides, admission in museums, historic houses, and gardens, gratuities for professional guides and coach drivers, and porterage. Private airport transfers for arrivals at Glasgow on the day immediately preceding the tour and the first day (Tour 1: June 3–4; Tour 2: June 17–18), as well as departure days from Edinburgh (Tour 1: June 12; Tour 2: June 26). Participants wishing to arrive in Edinburgh or depart from Glasgow will incur supplementary costs. For those who wish to extend their stay, we can arrange extra nights at the hotels listed for an additional cost.

Not Included in the Trip Cost: Airfare, airport transfers other than specified above, alcoholic beverages other than when provided, personal expenses, and trip insurance are not included. Transatlantic airfare is not included. Please do not make your airline reservations until you have received written confirmation of your registration from the Trust.

Reservations: A deposit of $2,500 per person is required at time of registration. Reservations and deposits are taken on an as-received basis. You will receive written confirmation from the Decorative Arts Trust when we receive your registration.

Single Supplement: The single supplement is $2,100 to be paid with the final balance.

Final Payment: Due by January 23, 2026. Invoices for balance payments will be mailed in December.

Membership: Membership at the Sponsor level is required for participation in Study Trips Abroad. Your membership contribution is tax-deductible. If an increase in your membership level is necessary, the Trust will invoice you for the appropriate upgrade with your final payment.

Contribution: A donation to the Decorative Arts Trust of $500 per person is required for Study Trips Abroad. This gift is fully tax deductible and helps support the Trust’s mission and programs.

Itinerary: The schedule outlined in this itinerary is contracted at this time but subject to change as necessary.

Participation: The trip is limited to a maximum of 25 members and requires a minimum of 15. The trip will be canceled if under-subscribed, and deposits will be refunded. 

Activity Level: The Trust’s Study Trip Abroad itineraries are planned with care and attention to detail to ensure a memorable and rewarding trip for all participants. Note that this itinerary is strenuous and includes standing for periods of time, walking on uneven surfaces, and ascending and descending stairs without handrails. Please consider if this program is suited for your health, physical condition, and individual circumstances.

Cancellation and Refunds: If you must cancel your reservation, you are urged to do so as soon as possible in writing to the Decorative Arts Trust. All cancellations are subject to a $500 administrative fee per person. Deposits are non-refundable after November 28, 2025. Cancellations arriving by March 20, 2026, will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations arriving by April 10, 2026, will receive a 25% refund. There will be no refunds for cancellations received after April 10, 2026. THE TRUST STRONGLY ENCOURAGES ALL PARTICIPANTS TO PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE TO PROTECT AGAINST CANCELLATIONS DUE TO ILLNESS, INJURY, AND OTHER DISRUPTIONS.