the house of the binns

Visited with my granddaughters (13 and 8) as they love stately homes and castles. Very interesting history and we were fortunate enough to meet Tam Dalzeil and shake his hand. Beautiful house and grounds and well worth a visit.

Great place to see round history of house really interesting View from house and groundsspectacular u will also see peacocks in the grounds they are so lovely especially with theirtales fanned out. Tam Dalzell former MP still lives in part of house which originally belongedto his family Jan S

Its impossible to see everything here - there is so much!! Fantastic pictures, artefacts and a great history. The guided tour of 10 rooms gave insight into the 400 year history of this family. Very informative and interesting. Lots of old original stuff!The grounds are extensive and accessible to all - we didnt have time to explore as we had a flight to catch, The views over the Forth are second to none and there is a lovely view of Blackness CastleAs usual with NT properties a £10.50 entrance is steep - but just join and you can enjoy all of these treasures for free!!

The Binns tour was totally enjoyable. The staff was very knowledgeable, courteous, and rightfully proud of this fine country home. The home presented an excellent mix of a historic Scottish family and the current family that still occupies the property. This is a place with deep feelings and some dark legacy. (Ask about the thumb screws.)

The house is set in extensive grounds - we didn't explore them as it had been raining and we didn't have suitable footwear, but it has lovely views up the estuary. The grounds contain a folly which were were informed by the guide was built as part of a bet. Also several peacocks roam the grounds and there was even a peacock recipe displayed in the kitchen! The visit is by guided tour and was well worth the small entrance fee. (free for National Trust for Scotland Members or National Trust Members) The house has been in the same family for generations and is still a family home. Well worth the visit

Parking is very close to the house after a long and distinguished drive up from the gatehouse (an early work by Sir Basil Spence), met by peacocks. This is a homely house that is great to explore with the knowledgeable and thoughtful guide. The 17th century Italianate plaster ceilings in the main first floor rooms are of very high quality. The house is full of Dalyell family memorabilia, from the Russian leather boots of Royalist Colonel Tam to the tail of a horse killed at Balaclava to the political cartoons of the current Tam, he of the West Lothian question. Well worth a visit.

T Dalyell was our MP for a long time until, as father of the house of parliament he retired. It was a pleasure to visit his stately pile, where he resides despite his parents having already donated the entire property to the National Trust for Scotland.An interesting property inside. Bulging with history and historical artifacts abound. Outside the extensive grounds offer panoramic views of the river Forth estuary, woodland walks, a picnic area, peacocks and deer abound in safety.Well worth a visit. Free, your favorite four letter word beginning with F for NTS members. Non members have to pay a small token amount.Dont forget to get the info about the " folly ".

Over the August Bank holiday weekend, visited The House of Binn. There has been some kind of building going back 700 hundred years. There is a possibility that there was a Pictish fort. The Estate was purchased by Thomas Dalyell in 1612 who was a butter merchant. He imported butter from Orkney to Leith & then sold it as axle grease.Thomas rebuilt the house between 1621 to 1630 which was then extended in the 18th & 19th century. Some the orginal features are still visible. The house & parkland were gifted to The National Trust of Scotland in 1944 by Eleanor Dalyell where the family still retained the right to live in the house. Currently, Sir Tam Dalyell lives in the western side. The guide takes you through the house which last about 75 minutes. You still get a feeling that the house is still a home with current family pictures. There is so much family history which is worth knowing about.The National Trust and the Dalyell family have made great efforts to preserve the hose so that visitors near & far can see a house which has a long history still associated with a well known Scottish family.Well worth a visit.

Enjoyed a very pleasant day at the House of the Binns, great views over the Forth to Fife and beyond A nice walk up thru the wood to the Binns tower again great views. The house is a fascinating insight into the history Dalyell family. The tour of the house is well guided and interesting. All in all a great place to visit.

I was here on Saturday afternoon, and despite living in nearby Edinburgh and having family with the surname Binns, I had never made it our for a tour and visit. I was really pleased with Isobel the tour guide, she was very chirpy and positive and gave a fascinating and informative tour of the main house. She was incredibly enthusiastic about the building and some of the stories surrounding it.The Tower is worth going to as well, the views from there are great.The Peacocks in the grounds are beautiful creatures and worth getting some photos of, but don't go too close!Unfortunately for us it was raining when we went but I think on a sunny day it is a super place to go for a walk and/or picnic in the grounds. The view to the Firth of Forth and Blackness Castle is wonderful.Only £10.50 per person for entry and tour.

Lovely location overlooking the River Forth. House has a rather grey exterior but inside is a mix of both domestic and grand decoration, furniture, china, silverware and paintings. Guides are very friendly and informative stressing that the house still has family in residence and giving much detail on the family history. A must visit.

A house that has been lived in by the same family for almost 4oo years has,by definition,to be interesting and it most certainly is.Not on as huge a scale as nearby Dumfries House but more homely and intimate although possessing some very grand rooms.My favourites would have to be the dining room,King's Bedroom and the upstairs salon but the whole place was fascinating.Tam Dalyell,the 10th Baronet although he does not use his title,still lives there and is himself a great part of parliamentary history.One thing to note ..the house is only open midweek during the season and then from 2pm till 5pm.Well worth a visit

Been here a few times and it's never open. I've no doubt of it's historical importance etc etc but it would be good if the paying public could see something of that. The entire house and grounds is closed to the public for 6 months of the year and the house is open only fleetingly. True there are views and the odd peacock wandering about but you can't help wondering whether this should be included in the NTS roster of things to see and do close to Edinburgh as it's not easy to find anything of interest to

A great place to visit anytime as the gardens are open all year round. In the spring the snowdrops and daffodils are well worth seeing as there are millions of them. Lovely woodland walks around the gardens with waymarked footpath. Great place to have a picnic on a sunny day. Good views looking down to Blackness and the Firth of Forth. House is worth a visit too and as other visitors mentioned it has limited opening times. Lots of parking by the house.

The House of the Binns is the ancestral home of the Dalyells although now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It is a living museum as it is still a home with delightful personal touches as well as the most interesting artefacts. Fascinating history and knowledgeable guide. Only open in the afternoons and only guided tours. Excellent parking close by but watch out for the livestock as you drive in, including the wonderful peacocks. Magnificent views - such a lovely setting.