Connecting People, Art, Land and Learning
Mount Stuart House and Gardens are located on the beautiful island of Bute. Bute is only 33 miles from Glasgow. It is the most accessible of the westerly isles from the Scottish Central Belt. It’s a peaceful island haven, just a stone’s throw away from the mainland.
The spirit of nineteenth-century invention is embodied in Mount Stuart – a feat of Victorian engineering, this neo-gothic mansion was one of the most technologically advanced houses of its age. Ironic, when you consider the medieval inspiration of the Gothic Revival. Set in 300 acres of grounds which include designed gardens, woodland and coast there is something for everyone at Mount Stuart!
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The Heart & Soul of Scotland
We’re only 90 minutes from Glasgow so if you’re planning a trip to the city don’t stop there! Head on over to Wild About Argyll’s website to find itineraries and get to know Bute’s #heartandsoul
WHAT'S ON
Mary, Queen of Scots Exhibition
2 May – 27 October 2019
Mary Stuart (1542-1587) – or Mary, Queen of Scots as she is commonly known – has long been a source of fascination, in Scotland and beyond. She has been the subject of numerous paintings, plays, books and films – and no wonder, when her biography reads like a Gothic novel. Her tragic tale includes three doomed marriages, alleged adultery, murder, imprisonment and execution. While many of the sordid details of her life and death are well-documented, others still are shrouded in mystery and obscured by centuries of rumor, romance and fantasy. This exhibition looks at both the real historical figure and the romantic cultural icon.
The diverse range of Mary-related materials you will see, including historic manuscripts, paintings, needlework and books, belong to the Bute Collection, one of the foremost private collections of art and artefacts in the UK. Many of the items were acquired in the early twentieth century by the Scottish history enthusiast John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute. However, some of the acquisitions date as far back as the late eighteenth century, indicating that Mary, Queen of Scots has been a Bute family interest for nearly three hundred years. Notably, as descendents of Robert II, the Crichton-Stuarts of Bute are, in fact, distant relatives of the Queen herself.
Gift Experiences
We are now offering gift cards for one & two hour private tours & afternoon teas for our 2019 season. The perfect gift for someone special or as a treat for yourself and a loved one!
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Latest News
Read our latest press releases as well as blog posts about highlights from our Collection and Gardens!
Latest News
Visual Arts Programme – Whitney McVeigh
What is Worthwhile Doing in this World
16 March – 26 April 2019
Mount Stuart Trust is delighted to announce a solo exhibition by Whitney McVeigh this spring as part of its expanded Contemporary Visual Arts Programme.
McVeigh reaches into the Bute Archive, traditionally the realm of a patriarchal narrative, and focuses on intimate traces of the history of women in the house, in particular Gwendolen Crichton Stuart, 3rd Marchioness of Bute (1854-1932) and Augusta Crichton Stuart DBE, 4th Marchioness of Bute (1880-1947). The exhibition is an opportunity to bring the archive into the public space, an encounter that alludes to layers of time and celebrates our universality.
Mount Stuart is located on the beautiful island of Bute. Bute is only 33 miles from Glasgow. It is one of the most accessible of the westerly isles from the Scottish Central Belt. It’s a peaceful island haven, just a stone’s throw away from the mainland.