The Dunmore Pineapple in Scotland

The Dunmore Pineapple is an odd sight to run across while traveling in Scotland. Located less than an hour from Edinburgh in Scotland, the Dunmore Pineapple is a full-service hotel shaped just like a giant pineapple. Originally built in 1761 by the Fourth Earl of Dunmore, the Dunmore Pineapple has survived several moves and now sits as a vacation home that can be rented during certain times of the year. The Pineapple was designed to be a garden retreat and hothouse for Murray and his wife, including a state-of-the-art furnace-based heating system that kept the interior warm enough to grow pineapples year-round.

The Dunmore Pineapple in Scotland: Its history

The Dunmore Pineapple was built by John Murray, the Fourth Earl of Dunmore. Murray had previously been the Governor of the Bahamas and wanted to bring some of the tropical theme to his new home in Scotland. The most exotic type of fruit he could think of was the pineapple, so he commissioned for a large-pineapple shaped pavilion for his home. The large pineapple was originally used only as an area for Murray's wife to relax and watch over her garden at the Dunmore House.

The Dunmore Pineapple in Scotland: Restoration in the 1970s

In the 1970s, the Countess of Perth gave the Dunmore Pineapple to the National Trust of Scotland for management. It was then restored and moved to the village of Airth, where it is available for vacation rentals. Airth is centrally located between Glasgow and Edinburgh, making it a convenient place to stay when visiting Scotland. Only a few miles away is the National William Wallace Monument in Stirling, paying tribute to the namesake for the Braveheart movie. The Dunmore Pineapple only holds four guests, so make reservations ahead of time if you are traveling at a popular time of year. Contact the Landmark Trust, which sets the hotel's rates depending on the season.

The Dunmore Pineapple in Scotland: An architectural marvel

The architecture of the Dunmore Pineapple captures the fruit in amazing detail. The entire pineapple is 45 feet high and each leaf is carved into the fruit individually. The curls are designed to look realistic, including even the sharp points on the end of each leaf. Some of the details also serve a functional purpose, with the channels carved on the fruit working as drainage so water cannot accumulate and rot the Dunmore Pineapple. This may have helped the Pineapple building survive when other structures in the surrounding area were rotting and falling apart.