Mounie Castle is privately owned and has connections with the Seton family whose plant badge is the yew and who planted a yew at nearby Pitmedden House. There is a large yew close to the house under which is the Daviot Pictish symbol stone which was removed from its original site in the 19th century and re-erected in the grounds of the castle, apparently for it’s protection. The yew on the front lawn has been chained and braced in the early 19th century, presumably to prevent a splitting of the trunk. There is a second large and layering yew in what is now woodland, and apparently there is a burial ground near here.
An aerial photograph of the house shows there was a yew avenue leading to ‘Mounie Garden House’ an intriguing building with interesting symbols in the stonework. This avenue unfortunately no longer exists. There is yew hedging at the front of the house which the current owner hopes to restore. There is an extensive central section in the hedging and historic photographs show it was once a piece of standalone topiary shaped like a teardrop. Please note this is a private house.
