The house arose from the ashes of the previous Mount Stuart, a building dating from the reign of Queen Anne, which was destroyed by fire in 1877. The swimming pool was the first ever heated pool to be contained within a house. However the tradition of fire-heated encasements and pool water in British houses goes back to the Roman era. By Bicycle - Check out Tripadvisor members' 1,608 candid photos and videos.
As a charitable trust all income generated through ticket, membership, retail and catering sales contributes to the maintenance and conservation of Mount Stuart, with the aim of ensuring that future generations have access to the magnificent house, gardens and collections. By Bus.
Opened to the public June 1995.
Please be aware that we do not have a designated parking area for motor homes. The bus stop at Mount Stuart is a short walk from the Visitor Centre. Blue badge parking is available both at the Visitor Centre and main house.
Mount Stuart, Rothesay Picture: This is the outside of Mount Stuart House at the back near to the swimming pool and café. See separate list entries for other structures within the Mount Stuart estate. West Coast Motors operate a regular bus service 490/90 from Rothesay (Guildford Square) to Mount Stuart. Under the direction of the 3rd Marquess of Bute and his architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, this extravagant new house was born, fusing powerful architecture with noble themes and lavish designs. Today Mount Stuart is a popular visitor attraction on the island, and a renowned wedding venue. The Mount Stuart House claims to be home to the world's first heated pool in any house; it was the first home in Scotland to be lit by electricity and so may have been the first to have a heated pool. These were retained as part of the new Mount Stuart, which the 3rd Marquess of Bute built in the late 19th century. Most of the contents survived, along with the Georgian wings of the building. Find Out More
The original house was built from 1719, but was severely damaged by fire in 1877. Mount Stuart House & Gardens is operated by Mount Stuart Trust.
Mount Stuart’s architectural journey is a story in itself.