Douneside House

Holiday country house and conference centre

Why not make it a special weekend by coming to Douneside 25-27 May - 3 nights for the price of 2!

Do please follow us on - Facebook and Twitter

Don't waste time - see our special offers now!

A warm welcome

A warm welcome to Douneside House, a unique country house of great character that lies above the village of Tarland in the Scottish Highlands.

The House is a registered club owned by The MacRobert Trust**, and is situated 30 miles west of Aberdeen on Royal Deeside. It has 15 acres of magnificent gardens and grounds with spectacular views over the Howe of Cromar to the Grampian Mountains.

From May until mid-October (and during Christmas, Easter and selected winter weekends) it is a holiday country house for serving or retired commissioned Officers of the Armed Services and their family*. For the remainder of the year it serves as a conference centre for businesses and other organisations.

A place of peace and tranquility, the House offers excellent value for money and something for guests of all ages. Its comfortable accommodation is combined with good food, extensive facilities, and a convenient location.

It is also an ideal base from which to explore the beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside.

For business people organising a conference it provides a private, secure and secluded location with a good range of up-to-date facilities.

As the former home of a distinguished local family, Douneside House retains great charm while incorporating all the modern comforts that guests expect.

Please visit us on TripAdvisor

Eligibility and Entitlement

The MacRobert Trust subsidises the operation of Douneside House as a charitable undertaking. To protect The Trust's charitable status, control is exercised over who comes to Douneside and of those, who receives the subsidised ('entitled officer') rate.  This is determined through the terms of The MacRobert Trust Deed. 

Eligibility to come to Douneside   Douneside House is open to serving and retired commissioned Officers of the British Armed Services (including the Reserve Forces and Officers of the Air Training Corps, Army Cadet Corps and Sea Cadets) and their accompanying families and guests. Commissioned Officers, both serving and retired, of any NATO and Commonwealth countries are also welcome.  Non-entitled friends of Officers, may come to Douneside only when accompanied by that Officer.  Immediate family (parents, adult children and siblings of entitled Officers) may come to Douneside unaccompanied, provided they are sponsored by the entitled Officer.  Certain Merchant Navy officers may also come to Douneside - please telephone for details.

Entitlement to Subsidised Rates   Referring to the Tariff Table , 'entitled Officers' are those officers eligible, as described above, their spouses and their children under the age of 21, and widows and widowers of former officers.  Spouses do not need to be accompanied by their husband/wife.  'Immediate family', as described above, also receive subsidised rates but pay 10% more than 'entitled officers'.

Guests not entitled to the Subsidised Rate   Referring to the Tariff Table, guests not entitled to the subsidised rate are friends of offciers who do not have Commissioned Officer status.