Let the house party begin

Carphin House is ideal for a family get-together or murder mystery weekend, finds Gaby Soutar

There was no staff entrance when Carphin House was first built,” says our host. “So the maid had to climb out of here”. She gestures to the sash window at the end of the long kitchen, with its farmhouse table and cream Aga.

Oh the joys of drudgery in the 18th century.

We raise our mugs to the poor maid, who would also have had to deal with the service bells in this room.

A “br-iii-n-g!” could come from almost anywhere.

There are nine bedrooms (seven doubles, all ensuite, and two twins), three reception rooms and a dining room. The mansion also boasts various laundry rooms and outhouses and 15 acres of land, though those areas are mercifully bell free.

At least she would’ve kept fit, while everyone else played charades and nursed their gout.

Originally owned by the Carnegie family, this self-catering property at the bottom of Norman’s Law, in Luthrie, Fife, is now being let as a venue for large parties and weddings. (Just nearby, their nuptial friendly Loghouse will be opening next summer, with a ceremony space, bar, kitchen, stage and room for 180 guests).

Our party of nine are practically rattling around in it. It’s as if we had the keys to our own hotel.

And, although it is very grand, it’s relaxed too. When we first arrive, we start to remove our shoes and are told not to worry. “This is your home for the weekend”. That’s a relief when you have four children in tow, who go on to have the best and lengthiest games of hide and seek they’ve ever experienced.

There’s also an uncontrived feel to the space.

In the smart dining room there are portraits of the families who stayed here – the Carnegies maybe, or perhaps the latter occupants, the Wemyss family – and original, though well loved, furniture.

While, in the living room you’ll also find a piano, a sound system with ancient CDS, and a cupboard that contains an accumulation of treasures like Victorian hand-cut jigsaw puzzles, old Georgian pennies and sewing kits. In here, we tell ghost stories by the open fire, and wind up those with fragile constitutions by ringing the service bells while they’re in the kitchen. (Not recommended if anyone in your party has a heart condition). With such an atmosphere, it’s no wonder they’ve been holding Murder Mystery weekends (see details for next dates).

From the house, it’s about 30 minutes to St Andrews and just a 15 minute drive to Cupar.

We swithered between a visit to St Andrews Aquarium or Cupar’s Scottish Deer Centre. In the end, Bambi trumped fish. There are Nose to Nose sessions at this place, where you can go behind the fences and feed a resident deer, alongside a talk from the knowledgeable rangers. Or you can just wander alongside the fields to see the 14 types of deer, from axis to pere david, sika, fallow and red.

There are signs telling visitors not to feed the hormonal stags, but the hinds and fawns act like they’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet, and we indulge them with handfuls of the munchy pellets (£1 a bag).

Their pair of brown bears – one of whom was rescued from a European circus, and the other, Loki, her cub – are both currently in hibernation.

However, other less sleepy animals can be found at their education hut, where we got to hold a corn snake, check out the giant African Land Snail (doing nothing much but sitting in its own mucus), and the kids’ brains were boggled by the fragile exoskeleton of a tarantula.

Clockwise from main: view of Carphin House and the grounds in Luthrie, Fife; the living room; one of the nine bedrooms

Back outside, and other warm-blooded creatures include their pack of wolves, as well as an enclosure featuring tufty-eared lynx, who trot up as if happy to see us, but make a loud huffing sound when they realise we don’t have any food.

My faves were probably the Asian Small-clawed Otters. We spot one at feeding time, snatching fish out of the keeper’s hands with dextrous paws.

There’s also a wildcat. We look everywhere for him, but he must be camouflaged amongst the branches.

Good hide and seek, kitty. You’re never going to beat the games we’ve had at Carphin House, but you gave it your very best try.

The children have the best and lengthiest games of hide and seek ever

A stay at Carphin House (Luthrie, Cupar, Fife) starts at £675 a night for exclusive use, call 0791 771 7782 or see www.carphinhouse.com The Murder Mystery Weekends include a two-night stay at Carphin House, character briefings from the Blue Murder Events team (who will be on hand at the house) and a threecourse dinner from Ally Reid from Tartan Stag Catering. Available to book for 11-13 May and 18-20 May, a minimum of 12 people, from £185pp. The Scottish Deer Centre, Cupar, £8.50 adults, £5.70 children (under threes are free), 01337 810 391, www. tsdc.co.uk