Dalmunzie History
Dalmunzie Estate and Glenshee have been home to people for thousands of years. The standing stone and burial cairn near the church represent a history of people who inhabited the glen long before written records. Legends and history abound in the area including the death of Diarmid and his tomb, the battle of the caterans, tales of Cam Ruadh, the mighty MacCombie Mor and the finding of the Dalmunzie sword.
Dalmunzie’s written record begins in 1510 when Sir William Scott is on record granting lands including Dalmunzie to John Fergusson of Dunfallandy.The first recorded Laird was Robert MacRitchie who along with his son Duncan ‘Cattanach’ MacRitchie were declared rebels in 1584 & 1589. They lived in the original Dalmunzie Castle which stood near the 6th tee of the golf course. Robert declared MacKintosh to be his native chief in 1595 and from this point until 1647 the Lairds were termed as MacKintosh alias MacRitchie. Whether the family were related to the MacKintosh’s or looking for protection is unknown. A detailed account of the clan history notes ‘ it is difficult to account for the granting of that band and the acknowledgement of MacKintosh as their "natyff cheiff" unless there was belief they were bound by ties of birth and blood’ .
Robert's Great-Grandson Robert Macintosh, 3rd of Dalmunzie fought in the Civil war with James Graham Marquis of Montrose in 1645 and was instrumental in building Dalmunzie up to the estate it is today. The men of Dalmunzie along with those of Glenshee were ardent Jacobites fighting at both Sheriffmuir in 1715 and the ill-fated Battle of Culloden in 1746.
In those days, the glen must have been very different. Dalmunzie Castle stood on the other side of the burn above Dalmunzie fermtoun with 11 cottages, a mill and enclosures nearby. The glen between the Hotel and the gatehouse was heavily populated with perhaps 150 people living in hamlets and farms on both sides of the present driveway. Lenoch-more, Lenoch-beg & Balneton were on the south side of the burn. Sheneval, Wester Spittal, West, Mid & East Cuthell on the north side. All of their ruins can still be found by walking the hill dykes on both sides of the glen.
The MacKintosh's of Dalmunzie had moved to London by the mid 1700's and after a turbulent history held onto their lands until the early 1900’s. During the period when they lost Dalmunzie due to financial difficulties (1782 - 1813), the minister for Glenshee made the following ominous indirect statement. Alexander Robertson was born in the year that 35 families were evicted from Dalmunzie. Like many other estates Dalmunzie had been driven into the improvement era with sheep taking the place of the tenants who had lived in the glen for centuries.
Dalmunzie castle itself had fallen into ruins and an L shaped hunting lodge was built on the present site of the hotel in 1874 by Dr Charles Hills Macintosh 10th Laird of Dalmunzie. A larger L shaped lodge was built over this in 1884, a Victorian wing added in the 1890's and the building and estate leased for shooting parties. Hugh Richard Duncan Mackintosh, 11th Laird of Dalmunzie was the last MacKintosh, dying childless in London in 1916.
Over three hundred and fifty years of ownership by the Macintoshes came to an end when Dalmunzie was purchased in 1920 by Sir Archibald Birkmyre who had leased the property as a shooting retreat since 1907. Sir Archie who had received a Baronetcy due to service in WW1, immediately built a new driveway, Britain's highest golf course, a spectacular 2 1/2 mile railway to Glenlochsie Lodge, and extended the main house. This included the large Edwardian wing, the imposing oak tower,and the conversion and expansion of the stables and staff cottages into the engine house for the trains. The house was a thriving home during the holidays, with many notable visitors making their way to Dalmunzie for the parties and shooting expeditions.
Dalmunzie was used as a base for a mountain artillery regiment during the second world war, with the Birkmyre family selling the estate in 1946 to Dennis Winton, a decorated WW2 fighter pilot. DW as he was known transformed Dalmunzie into a country house hotel. The hotels reputation as a special retreat was built over the next 30 years with some families returning for many decades. The novelist Alexandra Raife was a manager during the 1960's, and many of her books reflect her experiences during those days. The railway was removed in the 1970’s and Dalmunzie Castle Hotel sold to the Campbell family in 1980. The hotel was purchased in 1987 & operated by Simon & Alex Winton until the decision was made to sell and concentrate their energies on Dalmunzie Estate in 2004.
Scott & Brianna Poole, Australians of Scots descent took over the reins of Dalmunzie Castle Hotel as Directors in February 2004. Remarkably, they discovered the 7th Laird of Dalmunzie, Lachlan Mackintosh as Minister for Dunning in Perthshire had married Scott's ancestors James Graham & Janet Neil in 1716. Brianna's family, the Stewarts, are originally from Blair Atholl, Perthshire only several miles away. A major refurbishment of all public rooms was carried out in March 2004 and a full refurbishment of all bedrooms throughout 2004 and 2005. The bedrooms were re-tiered and themed afterthe families relevant to Dalmunzie's long history.
The Poole's had been searching for a quintessential Scottish property for many years and believe they have found it here. The setting, location, history and house complement each other perfectly, and they thoroughly enjoy operating Scotland’s leading heritage hotel in this beautiful and hidden part of Perthshire.
