designtripper

Stay: Gargunnock House

Near Stirling, Scotland

10.18.2010 | by: Meghan

Every summer Lisa Borgnes Giramonti from A Bloomsbury Life takes a big trip with some friends and their families. This summer, they opted for this nearly 25,000-square-foot Scottish manse. It was their fourth visit. Almost 15 years ago, Lisa and her husband, who were living in London at the time, were invited by friends and shared the house with a bunch of DJ’s, club kids and a fabulous drag queen who dressed up in a Victorian ball gown every evening. This trip was a little different. Cue a bunch of kids sprawled out, playing board games and hide-and-seek in the immaculate, formal rooms, running around the lush grounds and embarking on muddy hikes, jumping fences, crossing sheep pastures and picnicking on mountaintops.

Lisa gives Designtripper a special account:
After a couple weeks of seeing nothing but castles, lochs, sheep and the greenest grass you’ve ever seen, your brain is operating on an entirely different level. It’s even better for kids: my son lives on a pretty tight leash at home [in Hollywood], so being able to nod and say “Go!” when he asks if he can go off exploring is great.

The last owner of the house, a confirmed bachelorette named Viola Stirling, drove an ambulance in WWII and spent her life as gameskeeper of the estate along with her companion Miss Fairlie. When she died, she specified in her will that the house and grounds be preserved for the happiness of others. There’s a photo of Viola in one of the bedrooms—she has wavy cropped hair, a military uniform and a wonderful twinkle in her eye. Many pieces that belonged to her family are still in the house: all the ancestral portraits crowding the dining room walls, the piano in the grand salon that was supposedly played by Chopin, and the library that’s full of Viola’s books on horticulture and Scottish history. Staying at the house is incredibly personal; it doesn’t feel like a rental property at all. When we went on a hike this summer, I grabbed an umbrella in the hall to take with me in case it rained. When I opened it, it was a bit moth-eaten and rusty, which made sense when I saw the brass plate on it that said, “Viola Stirling, Gargunnock, 1913”! Her spirit is still very much alive there.

More than the scope of the property, it’s the house’s eccentricities which linger in my mind. Gargunnock is slightly mysterious, like the house in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” One hallway has such a sloping floor that marbles roll sideways and you almost have to grab onto the wall. There’s a bedroom on the third floor with signatures etched into the window panes—one reads “Miss Eliza, 1849.” Was she a governess? A young girl? An unmarried spinster?

The Details
The country house is owned and operated by the Landmark Trust—a UK-based company that rescues historic homes from neglect and restores them for future generations to enjoy on holiday. Prices start around $3,400 for a week.

Share/Bookmark

13 October 2021 | korres Said:

Very interesting details you have remarked, thankyou for putting up.

13 October 2021 | Best Crypto Signals Said:

wonderful submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite experts of this sector don’t realize this. You should proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!

13 October 2021 | Shelby Angeli Said:

This web page can be a walk-through for all the information you wished about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you’ll definitely discover it.

13 October 2021 | helpdesk Said:

I really like your writing style, great info , regards for posting : D.

14 October 2021 | helpscout alternatives Said:

I am not real good with English but I come up this rattling leisurely to translate.

14 October 2021 | Royal online Said:

Looking forward to reading more. Great article post.Really thank you! Fantastic.

14 October 2021 | AApykzw Said:

Запретный плод 117 серия с озвучкой Запретный плод 117 серия турецкий сериал на русском языке смотреть Запретный плод 117 серия онлайн

14 October 2021 | AAnynxf Said:

Мультфильм Семейка Аддамс 2 Семейка Аддамс 2 2021 на русском смотреть онлайн Семейка Аддамс 2 онлайн

14 October 2021 | AAdhpse Said:

Бджілка Майя 3. Місія Золоте яйце мультфільм Дивитися онлайн в хорошій якості Мультфільм «Бджілка Майя 3. Місія Золоте яйце» Бджілка Майя 3. Місія Золоте яйце мультфільм 2021 дивитися

14 October 2021 | MG 2022 Said:

I was just seeking this info for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Usually the top sites are full of garbage.

14 October 2021 | AArlsyq Said:

Смотреть Суперсемейка 2 бесплатно в хорошем качестве “Суперсемейка 2” бесплатно Суперсемейка 2 онлайн бесплатно

14 October 2021 | AAikoyv Said:

Смотреть Семейка Аддамс 2 бесплатно в хорошем качестве Смотреть Семейка Аддамс 2 онлайн в хорошем HD качестве Семейка Аддамс 2

14 October 2021 | AAnkkky Said:

Смотреть онлайн Суперсемейка 2 в хорошем качестве Смотреть Суперсемейка 2 Дубляж смотреть онлайн Суперсемейка 2 в хорошем качестве

14 October 2021 | Instagram view buy cheap Said:

Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too fantastic. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful site.

14 October 2021 | 보증토토사이트 Said:

Great, thanks for sharing this post. Want more.

15 October 2021 | 슬롯나라 Said:

Thank you ever so for you article.Really thank you! Really Cool.

15 October 2021 | AAfufef Said:

Неверный 36 серия все серии подряд Неверный 36 серия сериал смотреть онлайн Турецкий сериал Неверный 36 серия все серии на русском языке с субтитрами

15 October 2021 | AApcuux Said:

Барбаросса 7 серия с озвучкой Сериал Барбаросса 7 серия на русском языке

15 October 2021 | fluff and fold pickup Said:

I used to be very happy to seek out this internet-site.I wished to thanks in your time for this wonderful learn!! I definitely having fun with every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you weblog post.

15 October 2021 | Visa Soudan Said:

Thanks so much for the article post. Really Great.

15 October 2021 | green power solar inverter Said:

Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What a great website.

16 October 2021 | check it out Said: