Photo: Peter Robinson CC BY-SA 2.0 Source Cropped to fit
Kemnay House is a Category A listed historic house in Aberdeenshire, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Kemnay House
Kemnay House began as a 17th-century tower house and was later absorbed into a much larger mansion.
It stands about half a mile south of Kemnay village in Aberdeenshire, close to the River Don.
The old tower survives as the core of the building, wrapped in later stone additions that give the house its present grand scale.
Today the property operates as a hotel, allowing visitors to stay within walls that started life as a defensive keep.
History of Kemnay House
The tower house at the heart of Kemnay House dates from the 17th century, a period when many Aberdeenshire lairds built fortified stone towers along the Don valley for both defence and status. Later generations enlarged the original structure considerably, wrapping it in additional wings and reception rooms until the tower became just one element within a much bigger house. The building holds a Category A listing, recognising its historic and architectural interest.
Architecture of Kemnay House
The core of Kemnay House is a 17th-century tower house, a common form in this part of Scotland, built tall and narrow for defence with thick stone walls. Subsequent additions in a later domestic style extended the house outward, so the original tower now reads as an embedded feature rather than the whole building.
Plan your visit to Kemnay House
Nearest station: Kintore Railway Station (3.6 miles)
Admission
Historic Houses members must pay for entry
Places to visit near Kemnay House
East Aquhorthies Stone Circle
View East Aquhorthies Stone Circle on heritage mapEaster Aquhorthies
View Easter Aquhorthies on heritage mapKinkell Church
View Kinkell Church on heritage mapBrandsbutt Symbol Stone
View Brandsbutt Symbol Stone on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Kemnay House there are 5 historic properties, including 3 archaeological sites, across Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland sites.
Within 10 miles of Kemnay House there are 10 historic properties, including 8 archaeological sites, across Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland sites.
Within 20 miles of Kemnay House there are 26 historic properties, including 11 archaeological sites, 7 castles and 3 churchs, across Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland sites.
Stay nearby
Make more of your visit with an overnight stay near Kemnay House.
Find places to stay nearby Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.Facts
A 17th-century Scottish tower house absorbed into a later mansion, now a working hotel near the River Don.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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