Scottish Country Estate

Novar is a private country house in a traditional parkland setting at the centre of a diverse estate of more than 20,000 acres. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens - to the south and west by terraces and water gardens and to the north by the original walled garden. The rooms at Novar are light and warm, with furnishings of a very high standard, reflecting much of the family history.


Novar House was originally built in the 17th century, but was altered and rebuilt as a classical square by Sir Hector Munro on his return from India in 1765. Since then, the house and estate have passed down the generations, and Novar is now the home of Ronald Munro Ferguson and his family.


Sir Hector Munro began his military career in 1747. According to local tradition, he owed his first commission and possibly his ultimate successful career in the army to circumstances that might have seemed trivial at the time. The Duchess of Gordon was travelling alone in a sparsely populated area of Sutherland when she found herself in a vulnerable and dangerous position as her postilian had become hopelessly drunk. The young Hector Munro happened to be travelling in the opposite direction when he met the Duchess. He offered to take the place of the intoxicated coachman and conducted her to safely to her destination.

For his gallantry, the Duchess used her influence to procure for him a lieutenant's commission in the 34th Regiment. He travelled with his regiment to India in 1760 and made his fortune during the conquest of Bengal for the East India Company. He then returned to Scotland and set about rebuilding the house and transforming the estate, which was known for 'the poverty of its soil and was utterly barren of trees'. He created an enclosed and wooded landscape, much of which survives to this day 'while his neighbours watched in astonishment'.

Sir Hector Munro spent £120,000 improving his estate and was obliged to retrun to India to earn another fortune in order to run it. He returned with a smaller fortune from his battles, which included the defeat of Hyder Ali and the capture of Negapatnam. He built a replica of the gate of Negapatnam on top of Fyrish hill, partly to relieve local unemployment during the agricultural depression of 1786.

Sir Hector Munro never married, but had three children. His two sons met unfortunate deaths in India - one was killed by a tiger and the other by a shark. His daughter, Jean, married General Sir Ronald Ferguson of Raith and the family name was changed to Munro Ferguson.

Photo Gallery

Email to a Friend  Print Brochure  Reservations