The Burn’s historic Mansion House, self-catering cottages and spectacular 200-acre estate provide a superb location to escape, to relax, unwind and recharge, or to explore the spectacular beauty of Glen Esk and beyond.
Originally a privately owned family house, the Mansion House has kept all its homely charm and it remains a fun place to stay with plenty of comfortable bedrooms, relaxing communal spaces and gorgeous gardens and grounds. Although much has changed since it was a family home, we pride ourselves on offering the warmest of welcomes to all our guests.
As an educational charity any profits from your stay go to maintaining the estate for the benefit of future generations of talented young people. The Russell family gifted the estate to Goodenough College, to ensure that the Mansion House would be used as a space for academic retreats – nurturing talent and helping to build international understanding. Doesn’t it feel good knowing your time here will make a difference?
As the general officer commanding the British Army in Scotland and a local MP Lord Gordon was able to access free labour, in the shape of French prisoners of war from the Napoleonic wars, to carry out improvements to the estate. It was these prisoners who helped to construct the magnificent and world famous river walkway, much of it cut through solid rock, along the North Esk. They also laid out the estate’s ha-ha, a low sunken wall by the tennis court, to keep cattle off the grass; a beautiful walled garden; and a cattle tunnel, unique in Scotland, 75 metres long, to allow the movement of the herd of cattle from upper to lower fields without inconveniencing the guests.
The name, The Burn, comes from the small stream which meanders through the grounds, fed from a lochan (small lake) half a mile away. Lord Gordon planted many trees, including a very rare split leaf beech, a huge Wellingtonia, many fine yews, and a monkey puzzle tree in his arboretum, plus a large section of woodland throughout the grounds.
On a high wooded site above the riverside walk is the Doulie Tower. There is a local tradition that it was built as a retreat for an aristocratic lady in mourning but there is no evidence who the grieving lady was, more likely the structure was created as an architectural folly to enhance the grounds. Traces of what could have been a carriage track appear to lead to the Doulie Tower, so it’s possible that Lord Gordon’s guests would have driven there in their open carriages.
Work on the house was not completed until 1796, and this date appears on the yard clock and on the iron gate to the passage under the Gannochy bridge. Unfortunately Lord Gordon didn’t have much time to enjoy his creation as he died on 13 August 1801 “from violent inflammation caused by drinking lemonade when overheated.”
A number of owners succeeded Lord Gordon, including the McInroys who owned the property for most of the 19th century. In 1921 the McInroys sold the property to Mr George Herbert Russell, a wealthy industrialist from Lanarkshire. He immediately set out to return it to its past glory, employing a full house staff of butler, chauffeur, housemaids, etc., as well as keepers, ghillies and farm labourers.
Between 1933-35 Herbert Russell and his wife Marjorie Pleasaunce Lindsay Russell demolished some of the rambling and inconvenient additions to the house that had been added by previous owners and modernised the interior – transforming it into a grand and comfortable family home for themselves and their two children, James and Marjorie.
The work was done at very considerable cost, without disturbing the original 18th century plan of the house, and leaving intact the Adam-style marble mantelpiece, the hall ceiling and the cornice and lintel decorations. The exterior of the house remained mainly unchanged apart from the addition of a pair of single-storey bay windows in the library, providing lovely south facing views of the gardens.
During the Second World War the house was compulsorily taken over by the War Office to be used as an emergency maternity hospital, in case of heavy bombing of Dundee, but for most of the War it was used as a convalescent centre for wounded servicemen.
The Russell family moved to a house in nearby Blairgowrie and, in 1941, 19-year-old James Russell, heir to the estate, was called up for military service. James enlisted into an Indian army regiment: the Punjab regiment, where he became an Infantry Officer. After officer training in India, he served in Italy and fought in the long campaign there. On 24 July James’ battalion had reached a tiny village called Vigliano, eight miles from San Giminiano. The retreating Germans had left booby traps and one, in the church of San Lorenzo, killed James and another soldier, Muhammad Ali. Both now lie in the war cemetery at Florence.
At the end of the war the Russell’s decided they would try to use The Burn estate for some purpose which would be a memorial to their son. In 1949 the estate was gifted to the Dominion Student’s Hall Trust (now Goodenough College) to promote international networks of friendship and collaboration and to allow students, particularly international students and members of the Scottish universities, to enjoy the estate’s beauty and tranquility while completing their studies.
Today, when you decide to use The Burn for your academic retreat or special event, you are not just choosing a fabulous venue, but actively supporting the College’s charitable aims in nurturing talent and helping to build international understanding – causes close to the heart of the Russell family.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert relished the freedom that their Balmoral estate in Scotland allowed them to enjoy. The royal couple loved to go on pony treks into the wilds of Scotland and during their time at Balmoral they set off on three ‘Great Expeditions’, which allowed them to experience something approaching a ‘normal’ life. They travelled largely incognito, adopting pseudonyms such as ‘Lord and Lady Churchill’, and the Queen clearly relished the subterfuge, as her diary entries for the trips are full of her delight at hearing of “vague suspicions and rumours” and the close calls when they got away without their true identities being discovered.
It was just after 9.30 am, on Friday 20 September 1861, that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (accompanied by a small group of family, friends and staff) left Balmoral for their second ‘Great Expedition’.
The party picked up highland ponies at Ballater and then rode over the Cairngorm hills to the south and into Glen Esk. After a brief rest at Lord Dalhousie’s shooting lodge at Invermark, The Queen’s party was driven down Glen Esk in carriages until they reached The Burn (then owned by Major William McInroy). At this point Queen Victoria left her carriage and walked along the path above the Gannochy Gorge and through The Burn estate before taking tea with the Major. Writing in her diary about her visit she mentioned: “this most curious narrow gorge, which is unlike any of the other lynns’ showing she had a sense of mystery about this particular river … “very narrow, with deep pools completely overhung by wood”.
Unfortunately, the Royal party did not stay at The Burn but continued the expedition to the village of Fettercairn where they stayed at the Ramsay Arms Inn before returning the following day to Balmoral, via the Cairn o’Mount road.
Today visitors to The Burn can follow the path taken by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1861 – now known as The Blue Door Walk.
Alternatively, at the head of Glen Esk is another well-known walk to Glen Mark where visitors can view the Queen’s Well – an ornate crown-shaped structure over a well, erected by Lord Dalhousie to commemorate the royal couple’s passage through the Angus glens. Beneath stone arches, water gurgles up into a bowl that carries the inscription: “Rest traveller, on this lonely green, and drink and pray for Scotland’s Queen.”
Those who want to explore more of Queen Victoria’s “dear paradise in the Highlands” can follow the Victorian Heritage Trail covering some of her favourite places.
In 1949 the estate was given to the College by the Russell family in memory of their son who died in the Second World War with the aim of helping to nurture talent and build international understanding.
Significant funds are needed to maintain the estate’s buildings and grounds to ensure that this incomparable resource continues to exist for future generations of Members and Scholars. A gift to The Burn ensures we can provide the very best facilities to current and future visitors, whilst ensuring we preserve the historic character and features of our buildings.
If you’d like to find out more about how you can help to support The Burn, please contact Andrew McGowan, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at andrew.mcgowan@goodenough.ac.uk.
Registered Charity: Number 312894 in England and Wales.
Number SC039173 in Scotland.
Company Limited by Guarantee. Number 246919
Registered Office: Goodenough College, London House, Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2AB
