TWO stately homes in Scotland have been named among the best to visit anywhere in the UK.
The locations were listed alongside places like Audley End in Essex, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and Blickling Hall in Norfolk.
Introducing the stately homes, The Telegraph said that with more than 3000 of these estates spread across the country, they have become popular places for people from all walks of life to visit.
Why these stately homes in Scotland were named among the best to visit in the UK
Leith Hall in Aberdeenshire and Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute were the two stately homes in Scotland named among the best to visit in the UK by The Telegraph.
Discussing Leith Hall, which dates back to the 1650s, the newspaper said this baronial estate is "full of surprises".
It added that the "centrepiece" of this property is the "magnificent" Arts and Crafts garden which "flourishes" at 610ft above sea level.
There are also bountiful herbaceous borders, a rock garden, zig-zag paths, lichen-encrusted steps, a Chinese Moon Gate and spiral-cut lawns.
Those looking to go beyond the waymarked trail could be in with the chance of spotting Leith’s “fantastic five” - kingfishers, otters, teal, badgers and wildcats.
The estate is well-liked by visitors with users on Tripadvisor giving it a 4.5/5 out of 125 reviews.
One person wrote: "Lovely place to visit. Lots to see. The guide was great and very informative. The Gardens look lovely."
Mount Stuart was said to have been "built from the ashes" after the original estate was burnt down.
The newspaper said that now, this Victorian Neo-Gothic "wonder" is a "work of art" with "exquisite" craftmanship showing in everything from the woodwork to stained-glass windows.
According to the title, the Marquesses of Bute have always been "avid patrons" of the arts, leaving Mount Stuart with an "eclectic collection of paintings, sculpture, tapestry, textiles and metalwork."
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There is also a first folio of Shakespeare (only discovered in 2016) and the marriage certificate of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
This estate is similarly well-liked by visitors with users on Tripadvisor giving it a 4.5/5 out of 1315 reviews.
One person wrote: "This place was stunning. From the grounds and into the house, we took a lot of photos! The architecture was stunning, down to the minutest detail."
