Leith Hall reopens to the public

Leith Hall mansion house has welcomed its first visitors in almost five years. The historic house at the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) property at Kennethmont near Huntly has been refurbished to improve its visitor and functions facilities ahead of its re-opening. It will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am until 5pm during the visitor season. There are a number of interesting walks in the Leith Hall parkland and the re-opening of the Hall means that a full day out can be enjoyed at the property, where there are also formal gardens.

The Hall was closed during a round a cuts by the NTS in the autumn of 2008 and despite protests from local volunteers, there were plans to convert the property to flats and not re-open it. However a large donation made the £500,000 project possible and work to re-open the house in March 2013.

Property Manager Christina Low said: “We are ready to welcome visitors to this wonderful house once again. With grand interiors, wonderful artworks and a fascinating military collection, the house is a true treasure and a wonderful place to explore.”

The historic house was gifted to the conservation charity in 1945 by the Leith-Hay family. The grand house, which took three centuries to build, boasts a long and sometimes tormented history.

Commenting on the opening, Group Manager North East Steve Callaghan said: “This is a huge day for the staff, volunteers, supporters and surrounding communities of Leith Hall which marks the fruition of plans we’ve been developing since 2008.

“The repairs and upgrades we have carried out enable us to provide better facilities for visitors and also expands our capacity for events and functions.

“We are confident that through this work and our business and visitor-focused approach, we have found a successful and sustainable way forward for the property.”

For walks at Leith Hall and the surrounding countryside check out the walks in Huntly, Alford and Inverurie.