Grounds

Duff House is a jewel set in a stunning triangle of coast, river and parkland. Visitors can enjoy peaceful walks south along the River Deveron or along the Banffshire coastline to the north of the house that have hardly changed over the last three hundred years.

A gentle stroll around the grounds will give you a wonderful view of the house from every side or if you fancy a longer walk, head towards the Fife gates at the southern tip of the park where a path will take you through past the Duff ice-house and family mausoleum, to the Bridge of Alvah (approx 2 miles).

A free map is available in the Shop which shows places of interest through the Wrack Woods and provides directions to the Bridge of Alvah. For information on local walks around Duff House and Banff visit www.walkhighlands.co.uk or the local Rangers service.

The estate was first laid out in the 18th century by James Duff, 2nd Earl, and during his lifetime the house and grounds were laid out in formal gardens. 

The 2nd Earl also built the Bridge of Alvah, a local beauty spot and haven for wildlife, and the gothic Mausoleum in the grounds to house his family and ancestors.  He may also have built the ice-house which it is thought may have been constructed by a Banff stone mason, James Robertson (1737-1818), around 1790.

A more poignant reminder of the 19th century Duff family can be found at the site of the graves of former pets nestled in a quiet spot in the Wrack woods.  Further afield, the Temple of Venus can still be spotted high on the hill at Macduff, over looking the house and coastline, while the former Gates marking the entrance to the estate still stand, although they are relocated to Banff Castle in the High Street.

Today, the magnificent Duff estate is recognised by Scottish Ministers as nationally significant and is formally registered in The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Information on the estates is available on the Historic Scotland website.