About Hirsel Country Park

The Country Park is part of the Hirsel Estate which has been in the ownership of the Home family since 1611.

Presently the Estate extends to approximately 3,000 acres of mixed farming and forestry. The word Hirsel derives from an area of ground of such a size capable of one shepherd managing a flock of sheep. While the Hirsel House is not open to the public, it is viewed from several of the walks and dates back to Queen Anne, being constructed between 1702 and 1714. The oldest part is that to the southern end, the more regular shaped northern part of the house being constructed in 1896.

One of the features of The Hirsel is Dundock Wood, located at the west end. This wood was created in 1881, after a severe storm on the Estate, which resulted in several trees being lost. Such was the devastation that it was decided to wholly re landscape the area, and turn it into a rhododendron and azalea wood. As these plants are acid loving and the ground is naturally alkaline, it was necessary to bring several thousand tons of peat by horse and cart, from the Lammermuir Hills, at that time part of the Estate. The wood now boasts one of the finest rhododendron collections in the United Kingdom.

One of the other features at The Hirsel is the Lake, where visitors can view many different varieties of water life, including otters. There is a hide to the south side. The Lake is one of the largest manmade water features in Southern Scotland