Leith Hall

Leith Hall and the Jacobites

Leith Hall was donated to the National Trust for Scotland, along with all the family’s furnishings and art, making it one of the most complete collections available to view today. You can visit with a guided tour which offers an insight into the family life over the centuries.

The beautiful grounds  surrounding Leith Hall sit at 186m above sea level, and from the top there are spectacular views of Aberdeenshire and the surrounding hills.

Leith Hall is significant on our Jacobite trail because one of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s most famous soldiers, Andrew Hay of Rannes hid at Leith Hall after the Battle of Culloden, before later escaping to France.

Andrew Hay is perhaps best known for his devotion to the Jacobite cause, although like most Jacobites, at one point prior to the uprisings he took the oath of allegiance to King George II, which he did not honour. The other notable thing about Andrew Hay was his imposing height, recorded as over 7 foot tall.

Having taken part in the battles of Prestonpans and Falkirk, Andrew Hay’s final battle was to be at Culloden on 16th April, 1746. After the Jacobites were defeated, Andrew escaped and took refuge at a number of locations around the country, including Leith Hall. Andrew was considered a fugitive and a hunted rebel for years, but was successfully guarded by family and tenants until 1752, when after the death of his father, he finally left for the continent.

A complete story of Andrew Hay has been compiled based on his correspondence, and it can be viewed in Leith Hall today, or in an online format here: