Located on the Isle of Bute, just a short ferry ride from the mainland port of Wemyss Bay, Mount Stuart is a feat of Victorian engineering. Built in 1880, the neo-Gothic mansion was among the most technologically advanced houses of its time, complete with electric lighting, central heating, a telephone system, an elevator, and even a heated indoor swimming pool. Said to contain more marble than any other building in the British Isles, the palace also includes a majestic marble hall featuring vaulted ceilings painted with constellations and stained glass windows depicting the zodiac, a marble chapel made entirely of white Carrara, and sumptuous accommodations and reception rooms. Set aside time to stroll through the 300-acre garden, home to important botanical specimens and champion rhododendrons.
