NADFAS REVIEW/ WINTER 2010 45

www.nadfas.org.ukElemental eleganceTRAVEL/TOURSelementaleleganceThe treasures of Scotland'swest coastglobaladventuresThe best of NADFAS travelaffiliates' 2011 itinerariesthisissueClassical masterpieces,exotic plants and lashings ofdrama: NADFAS-accreditedlecturer Mark Cottleexplores the houses, castlesand gardens of Scotland'sunforgettable west coastThe Round Drawing Room atCulzean Castlecould serve as ametaphor for visitors to Scotland'sWest coast and islands. The DrawingRoom has all the characteristic balance,sophistication and elegance of Georgiandesign at its best, while beyond tallwindows lie the wild, dramatic cliffs ofAyrshire and the great sweep of the Firthof Clyde. It's this juxtaposing - greathouses and castles with their artworkand furnishings, and landscape gardenswith their rich, exotic planting, setagainst a land and seascape bothelemental and austere, yet staggeringlybeautiful - which gives this part ofScotland a truly unique stamp. Dumfries Houseis a miraculouslyunaltered Georgian house with asplendid Palladian front. Designed bythe Adam brothers, it is held to be thefirst major house designed by Robert,the more talented of the brothers, at thetender age of 26. Towards 1900 it wasextended by the great Scottish Arts andCrafts architect Robert Weir Schulz. It isa time capsule with an unrivalledcollection of furniture, principally byChippendale but also the three greatScottish cabinet makers of the mid-18thcentury: Francis Brodie, Alexander Peterand William Mathie. Chippendale's