Head Gardener's House, Tyninghame, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42

Outstanding house and gardens within the Tyninghame Estate

Description

The Tyninghame Estate is well known for its beautiful grounds, which extend to around 38 acres, with an A listed mansion at its centre. The Head Gardener’s House sits to the west of the main house, is Category C Listed, and dates from circa 1835, with a more recent extension and conservatory added in the early 1990s. The detached house provides accommodation across two floors, with generous reception rooms, spacious bedrooms, and gardens to both east and west of the property.

The formal entrance to the property is through a porch into the original part of the house, where a stair within the hallway rises to the first floor, and a separate door leads out to the gardens. Also off the hallway is a beautiful dual-aspect drawing room, as well as a shower room with WC.

Between the main hallway and new kitchen is a well-proportioned dining room, which links the old part of the property with the new, and which enjoys views over the west gardens. The kitchen is well equipped and features a central island for informal dining. Built in appliances include an electric oven and grill, hob, dishwasher and freestanding fridge freezer. A utility room situated off the kitchen contains a deep sink and a washing machine. The impressive conservatory leads from the kitchen, overlooks the west garden and is currently arranged with dining and sitting areas. It serves as a wonderful place to dine and entertain while enjoying views over the garden.

There are three double bedrooms at the Head Gardener’s House. The principal bedroom is on the ground floor and has a good sized dressing room, along with an en suite bathroom with bath and shower. There are two further bedrooms on the first floor, one of which also benefits from its own en suite with bath and shower as well as a walk-in wardrobe.

The driveway is situated on the east side of the property, provides parking for several vehicles and access to the double garage. Flowerbeds flank both sides of the driveway, providing colour throughout the year. The rear, west facing garden is arranged into four distinct garden rooms and was laid out by the highly regarded garden designer David C Stuart. In front of the conservatory is a terrace overlooking raised beds and a pond, with an orchard area beyond. In addition to a generous lawn, there is a more formal garden with well stocked borders and, at its centre, an urn surrounded by a circular flowerbed. A variety of trees and shrubs are scattered throughout the gardens and bound the property to the south and west, providing both shelter and a habitat for local wildlife.

Location

The Tyninghame Estate is set on the coast of East Lothian to the southeast of North Berwick. The estate is well known with a famous garden of 38 acres including woodlands and parkland which features a 16th century former bowling green, a secret garden, an ice-house, an heraldic sundial, and a tall sandstone obelisk that marks the head of a mile long avenue stretching to the sea. Outstanding in every category, the landscape at Tyninghame still has its 18th century structure, within which one can see 19th century development and the particularly fine 20th century gardens.

Residents of the Tyninghame Estate enjoy designated bridle paths, cycle paths and footpaths both in the grounds and through neighboring parkland and woodlands. A network of woodland paths leads down to the coast where there are magnificent, sandy beaches next to the John Muir Country Park. The shared garden areas are a real feature of living at Tyninghame. The main lawns, herbaceous borders, the Wilderness and the Secret Garden are all shared and maintained by The Garden Company on behalf of all residents.

Despite its sense of seclusion, the estate is exceptionally well connected. Edinburgh is only 27 miles away via the A1, which is dual carriageway from Haddington. East Linton (a few miles southwest) and Dunbar (about 6 miles to the east) both have railway stations, with Dunbar on the main line from Edinburgh to London King’s Cross. The pretty village of Tyninghame is just a short a walk from the house and has its own village hall and café, while East Linton has a renowned artisan bakery, award-winning butcher, as well as other local shops, a church, two pubs and a primary school.

There are many well-known golf courses in the area including the North Berwick West Links, Dunbar, Archerfield, Muirfield, Renaissance and several other Gullane courses.

Square Footage: 2,690 sq ft


Acreage: 0.57 Acres

Additional Info

Viewings: Strictly by appointment with Savills - .

Services: Mains water and electricity. Drainage to shared septic tank. Electric heating and hot water via immersion tank.

Listing and designated landscape: The property is Category C Listed and located within an “Inventory Garden and Designed Landscape” area.

Tyninghame Gardens Ltd: The property is a member of Tyninghame Gardens Ltd which grants access to the shared garden areas. A fee of circa £4,200 is due yearly for maintenance and use of the gardens.

Fixtures & Fittings: Fitted floor coverings, integrated appliances and light fittings are to be included. In addition the curtains and some of the garden furniture will be included in the sale.

Local Authority - East Lothian Council

Solicitors: Gillespie Macandrew, 5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 8EJ.

Photos taken: March 2026.

Date produced: March 2026.