About Douneside House

A country house with a special atmosphere and history

Douneside House is the splendid former home of the MacRobert family. It was bought by Alexander MacRobert in 1888 as a modest farmhouse for his aging parents. The house underwent various renovations during the early part of the 20th Century, thus providing Douneside with its more generous proportions recognisable today. Sir Alexander was knighted in 1910, becoming the first Baronet of Cawnpore and Cromar.

There are 14 comfortably furnished rooms in the main House, with five cottages in the estate grounds providing an equally high standard of accommodation.

Douneside House is a place with a special family atmosphere that helps guests feel at ease instantly.

The MacRobert Trust, which owns the House, was established by Sir Alexander's second wife, Lady Rachel MacRobert in memory of their three sons who were all killed as aviators, the eldest in a civil air accident in 1938 and the middle and youngest as officer pilots in the Royal Air Force on operational sorties in 1941. In memory of her sons, Lady MacRobert donated £25,000 to the nation to purchase a Stirling bomber, which she asked to be named "MacRobert's Reply".

As well as maintaining Douneside House and the surrounding 7,000-acre estate, the Trust provides grants for a wide range of charitable purposes.