A Hidden History of Kinclune House
Nestled in the heart of Scotland's birthplace, Angus, Kinclune House and Estate stand as a testament to the history of this enchanting region. This baronial mansion and country estate hold tales of war, farming and industry, with a unique blend of heritage and natural beauty.
Just a stone's throw from the rugged north east coastline and surrounded by lush woodlands, Kinclune is a hidden gem waiting to be explored.
Gifted by The King
Kinclune Estate was once part of a significant forest stretching north to Glen Prosen and west to Glen Isla, both now popular tourist spots in the north east. Kinclune Estate was gifted to the Abbey of Arbroath by King William the Lion, King of Scotland from 1165 to 1214.
The Abbey, founded by the king, was the wealthiest in the country. It was built as a memorial to William’s childhood friend Thomas Becket, the murdered Archbishop of Canterbury and helped to expand the king's authority in the north-east of Scotland. The Abbots and Monks of the monastery had the sole rights to hunt in the forest grounds that the estate now sits in. With its abundance of wildlife, it was the perfect hunting ground.
After the estate was sold by the monastery, it was split four ways. Over the years Kinclune has belonged to the family of James Nicoll, a manufacturer in Kirriemuir, who died in 1856, and to Sir James Farquharson, an East African railwayman, originating from Glen Moy in Angus. Farquharson, the last person to join the Caledonian Railway in 1922, was awarded an OBE, a CBE and a knighthood for his services to railways.
World War 2
During the Second World War, Kinclune House accommodated evacuees during the bombings. It has been reported that 30 children from the nearby city of Dundee occupied the house in this time.
Kinclune today
The current owners, Rowan and Marguerite Osborne, bought the estate from the Farquharson family in 2002.
Marguerite was born and brought up in Kingussie, in the Scottish Highlands where her father, James Mcintosh, was a tenant farmer, bootmaker, Highland pony breeder and supplier of working ponies to Highland estates. Marguerite followed in her father’s footsteps and was a keen horsewoman and breeder, setting up her own Highland pony stud. She is a past President of the Highland Pony Society and former Secretary of the Clydesdale Horse Society.
Rowan Osborne, a past British Olympian, was born in Achill Island, Ireland. His mother and her three young children relocated to America after the tragic drowning at sea of Rowan’s father, a fisherman. In his early twenties, Rowan came to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh, where he met Marguerite. They moved back to Kingussie, in the Highlands, as tenant farmers and worked their way up to owner-occupiers of a small farm in Midlothian before buying Kinclune House and Estate in 2002. They lived in Kinclune House until 2022 when they moved to East Kinclune Cottage and commenced the refurbishment of Kinclune House as a holiday home and events venue.
With the estate now under the care and management of their children, Aylwin, Virginia, and James, the house is a popular choice for rural weekend getaways and family celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings, Kinclune holds cherished memories for many and is set to see many more created.
Book a stay at Kinclune House
If you are interested in booking a rural escape, special event, or family getaway at Kinclune House, find out more here. Bookings for the Christmas period, New Year and January are now open.
