Hill of Tarvit Mansion House Gardens

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A walk round the extensive gardens of this historic mansion house

Close to the former Fife County Town of Cupar and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and open to the public this originally 17th century house was once known as 'Wemyss Hall'. In 1904, Frederick Bower Sharp (who made his fortune largely in the production of jute) purchased the house and the estate, renamed it 'Hill of Tarvit' and engaged the architect Sir Robert Lorimer to completely remodel the house and the gardens (now some 40 acres of garden and 279 acres of a wider estate), the intention being to provide a family home where Sharp could display his extensive collection of paintings, tapestries, furniture and porcelain. The new house was fitted with all modern conveniences, including central heating, electricity and an internal telephone system. In 1924 a nine-hole golf course was constructed in the grounds of the estate and today it is the only exclusively hickory golf course in the UK where visitors may play a round in Edwardian style with original hickory clubs and softer rubber-wound balls.

The Sharp's eldest child, Hugh, took a great interest in rare books and botanical specimens (many of which can be seen in the gardens) but, sadly, he died relatively young and unmarried and in 1948, upon the death of the last surviving family member (Hugh's younger sister Elizabeth), the house and the family's collection was left to the National Trust for Scotland, with a sizable endowment for upkeep. Originally only the ground floor of the house was open to the public, the upper floors being used as a convalescent home by the Marie Curie Foundation but, when the Foundation ceased using the house in 1977, the entire house was opened to the public. In 2006 the NTS restored the house as closely as possible to its original 1906 state resulting in the fine example of a wealthy Edwardian family home it is today.

As the NTS often do both the house (a Category 'A' Listed Building) and the gardens have been partially commercialised in order to raise funds. As well as an entrance fee to the house a cafe is available and portions of the grounds and gardens often host weddings and other events - it isn't unusual to see a large marquee on the south lawn close to the house and on such occasions parts of the house and gardens may be closed to the public.

Although I have given some background and history of the house the purpose of this article is to illustrate the wonderful gardens which surround the house. Not only are there interesting formal gardens there are also what may be referred to as 'back gardens' which contain woodland walks and several buildings which pertain to the running of the house - a laundry, a cider house, a gardeners' 'shed', a mausoleum, a doocot, a kitchen garden, a curling pond, etc. There are also the sketchy remains of a Ha-Ha Link which used to protect the grounds near the house. Although there is a fee to enter the mansion house the gardens are free for you to wander around to your heart's content (there is a charge for car parking). There is also a footpath which climbs to the summit of the Hill of Tarvit (211m) which is well worth the effort for the excellent views it offers over the Fife countryside.

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Where is Hill of Tarvit Mansion House?

This magnificent Edwardian family home lies off the A916 about one mile from the old Fife County Town of Cupar

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