NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS
Due to the popularity of his game- changing designs, Robert Adam was commissioned to conceive buildings throughout Britain, from north to south, giving you plenty of places to witness his impact. Edinburgh is a good
place to start – the city in which Adam studied and, a $er the death of his father, worked, in the family practice with brothers John and James (edinburgh.org).
First stop should be the palace-fronted north facade on
Charlo e Square, so called because the terrace of % ne townhouses appears as a single, grand composition. The icing on the cake of the city’s New Town and one of Adam’s % nal creations, it was designed in 1791. The facade is also a
great starting point for a wander around the Unesco
listed New Town, a Georgian gem de! ned by its wide streets, public squares and perfectly proportioned townhouses. While you’re there, take time to visit the many antiques dealers (see box, below) and interiors shops – added extras for design fans.
Adam died in 1792, just as building work commenced on Charlo"e Square. Another iconic city landmark the architect never saw realised was Old College, built for the University of Edinburgh,
Adam’s alma mater. The project was started in 1788 but stalled when funding ran dry; the ! nal touches were not realised until 1887.
Travel 100 miles west to Ayrshire to visit Culzean
Castle, a fairytale property overlooking the Firth of Clyde that took 18 years to complete (nts.org.uk/culzean). A sight to behold, Adam’s Oval Staircase (seen on page 133) corkscrews elegantly through the heart of this lavish country home, built to order for the 10th Earl of Cassilis. The castle is set in a 260-hectare estate that’s a true playground for the whole family. You could spend a day following the trails, wandering through the deer park and skimming stones from the beach.