Malleny House
Records indicate that the earliest owners of the Malleny land were the Knychtsounes in 1478. The present house was built in 1637 by Sir James Murray of Kilbaberton, and in 1656 the Scott family became the lairds. The last Scott laird, Major-General Sir Francis Cunningham Scott, sold the land to Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery in 1882. Lord Rosebery was Prime Minister from 1894–95, and the house remained in his family until 1960, when it passed to Commander and Mrs Gore-Browne Henderson. They presented the garden and house to the National Trust for Scotland in 1968.
Read more about the history of Malleny House
Doocot
Housing 915 nest boxes, the Malleny doocot was built in the mid-17th century to supply meat for the Scott family. Unusually, the nest box entrances are to the north, rather than the more traditional south side; possibly this is because the north side is sheltered by the house.
Fountain
The fountain that stands just in front of Malleny House is gravity-fed by water from the nearby Water of Leith. Don’t miss the two wrought-iron gates that lead from here into the woodland – kingfishers have been carved into their design.
Woodland
A network of paths weave through the 5-acre woodland that stands between the house and the river. It is cared for as a wildlife habitat, increasingly valuable in the suburban environment.
