Rammerscales
Five miles (8km) west of Lockerbie, Dumfries & Galloway, on A74, B7020. Tel. (0) 1387 811 988. Historic Houses Association.
Pink-stoned 18th century Georgian manor house designed in Palladian style. Fine circular staircases, Jacobite relics, and library. Collection of 20th century paintings, tapestries and sculpture. Views over Annadale. Dumfries & Galloway

Scone Palace
On east bank of river Tay, two miles (3 km) north of Perth, Tayside, on A93. Tel. (0) 1738 552 300. Historic Houses Association.
Since the 9th century a crowning place of the kings of Scotland (tiny chapel on the grounds) and home of the Stone of Destiny. The first recorded Scottish Parliaments took place at Scone. 1580 palace remodelled in early 1800's, of red sandstone in Gothic style. Home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. State rooms contain ivories, Chinese vases, paintings, clocks, furniture (including a set of Louis XV armchairs and a table made for Marie-Antoinette), porcelain. Embroideries by Mary, Queen of Scots. The Long Gallery is 142 ft. long with Scottish oak floor inset with bog oak. The grounds have a collection of shrubs. Woodland walks. Tayside

Sorn Castle
At Sorn, 4 miles (6km) east of Mauchline, Strathclyde, on B743. Tel. (0) 1290 551 555. Historic Houses Association.
Situated on cliff on River Ayr. Built of pink sandstone, it originally dates from 15th century, with 18th and 19th century additions. Old oak ceilings, Scottish artifacts and paintings. Strathclyde

Stevenson House
1 ½ miles (2.4km) from Haddington, Lothian, off A1 (signposted). Tel. (0) 162082 3376. Historic Houses Association.
16th century house, with later alterations. Fine furniture and pictures. Gardens. Lothian

Thirlestane Castle
At Lauder, Borders, on A68. Tel. (0) 1578 722 430. Historic Houses Association.
Home of Earls and Duke of Lauderdale, the Maitland family. Original keep completed in 1590, extended in 1670's, matching wings added in 1840. Decorative plasterwork ceilings, grand balustraded staircase. Historic toy collection and museum of Border Country Life. Borders

Torosay Castle
1 ½ miles (2.4km) southeast of Craignure, Strathclyde, on Isle of Mull. On Duart Bay, reached from the ferry dock by narrow gauge railway or special launch service from Oban. Tel. (0) 1680 812 421. Historic Houses Association.
Scottish baronial style built in mid 1800's. Formal terraces and gardens with 2 mile footpath to Duart Castle. The Statue Walk has life size limestone figures. Collection of rhododendrons. Walled garden, oriental garden. Strathclyde

Traquair House
Six miles (10km) southeast of Peebles, Borders, at junction of B709 and B7062. Tel. (0) 1896 830 323. Historic Houses Association.
One of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Scotland, which has been extended and altered over the years. Traquair started as a royal hunting lodge as early as 1107, then became a fortified tower. In 1491, James Stuart inherited it, and the house has been in the family ever since. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was turned into a mansion house. Mary, Queen of Scots, visited in 1556, and there are many of her personal belongings and mementos here (a quilt stitched by her and her ladies in waiting, James VI's crib, a rosary and a copy of the warrant for her execution). Portraits, State Bed and library of 3000 books from the 18th century. The Museum Room contains historical documents. Hidden passageways, cupboards and secret staircases attest to the family's Catholic faith and need to hide a priest in the house. The famous Bear Gates (Steekit Yetts) were, according to legend, closed by the 5th Earl in 1745 when Prince Charlie left, and the Earl vowed never to reopen them until the Stuarts were restored to the throne. Borders

Winton House
14 miles (22.5km) southeast of Edinburgh off the A1 at Tranent. Tel. (0) 1620 824 986.
Scottish Renaissance style, twisted stone chimneys, magnificent plaster ceilings. Paintings, furniture, costumes. Terraced gardens. Lothian