Novar House

Novar House is a three-story classical building with a square footprint that includes a ballroom and sits within grounds spanning around 20,000 acres. The estate offers more than 150 miles of paths and tracks running through forest areas and incorporates a hydroelectric system that has operated for generations.

The current building was constructed in 1765 by Sir Hector Munro following his return from India, built upon the site of an earlier castle. Munro's travels abroad influenced the classical architectural style he chose for his new residence.

The painter J.M.W. Turner created several works depicting the house in 1831, which brought artistic attention to the estate and showed how visually striking the property appeared to people of that era. These paintings remain part of how visitors today understand the historical appearance of the landscape.

Visitors can walk through the wooded grounds on marked paths that vary in difficulty from easy to more challenging routes. Wear appropriate footwear and be prepared for Highland weather conditions that can change quickly throughout the day.

Between 1788 and 1792, Sir Hector Munro planted nearly 800,000 fir and Scots pine trees across the grounds, fundamentally creating the forest landscape visitors see today. This enormous tree-planting project was one of the most ambitious undertakings of its kind during that period.

Location: Highland

Location: Alness

GPS coordinates: 57.68010,-4.32567

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:01