Inverewe House opened its doors to the public for the first time yesterday after a £2million restoration.
The event was declared a day of celebration – and one which witnessed the heart of spectacular Inverewe Estate in Wester Ross beat again.
The official opening was carried out by Simon Skinner, chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and Professor Ian Percy, former chairman of the NTS.
The duo walked through the gardens to the house, which had latterly been used as office space and staff accommodation, lead by lone piper, John Angus Morrison.
Mr Morrison, who had been working as on the redevelopment for almost a year as site manager for Beauly-based Simpson Builders, played Blue Grande on the pipes.
Situated in the heart of the internationally renowned gardens which overlook Loch Ewe, the house was built by the adventurous and pioneering Mairi Sawyer daughter of Osgood Mackenzie, who first established the gardens in the 1860s.
The house, an intrinsic part of the history of the gardens, was rebuilt in 1936 after the original hunting lodge and home was destroyed by fire.
As of this week, visitors can enjoy touring the house, which features a restored vestibule, large hall, lounge, dining room, smoking room, kitchen and gun room, as well as an extension housing an interactive area and gallery.
Kevin Frediani, property manager of the garden and estate said: “In my view, this is the best and most interesting National Trust Property for Scotland as unusually, we are encouraging visitors to touch and feel things rather than have rooms which are roped off from the public.
“Visitors can enjoy a seat in the lounge, open drawers and have a look at what’s inside and really enjoy the magical atmosphere of the house.”
He added: “It really is a marvellous house and having it restores is like having the heartbeat put back into the heart of the estate.
“The house was pretty run down to be honest, and the old metal windows weren’t keeping the water out so it was getting damp so we needed to do something.
“Often people coming to the gardens would pause outside the house, but it wasn’t welcome and didn’t really serve a purpose.
“Now we are giving visitors the opportunity to spend time here, and by opening up the house what we do know is people are spending more time in the gardens and want to know more about Osgood Mackenzie and his vision, so we are delivering on all of the purposes.”