The Hill House

The hill house is a great insight into how historical buildings need to be conserved and the unique ways that this can be achieved. A beautiful house in an amazing setting. Every member of staff we encountered were friendly and more than willing to talk about the house and welcome us! In a previous visit we accidentally got locked in the house (the internal house closes earlier) so it was good to finally have a proper look around - the staff were mortified and apologetic and we took it in good humour. You definitely need a head for heights to wonder the walkways but it is highly recommended.

A very interesting place to visit, if only for the amazing 'cage' protecting the historic house, from further water ingress. Go to the very top of the outer walkway and actually be above the house looking down to get a full perspective of it's innovative yet flawed design and use of cladding materials. There is a good cafe on site, toilets and small shop, with ample parking at the rear. I cannot see Natural Trust Scotland taking all of the outer 'cage' down once restoration is complete, as it is part of the attraction to the house and I am sure draws visitors on its own. Don't forget to walk around the garden before leaving.

A very interesting step back into a time when CRM caught the imagination of the Blackie family who commissioned this fantastic house. It was of course a family home and never treated like anything else and that’s interesting to think how they lived for decades in this architectural wonder. The sorry tale of substandard building materials and new techniques which didn’t quite work or have the longevity hoped for, result in the other marvel that is the cage around the building. It is a great way for exploring and seeing the house design in its entirety and understanding some of the ideas for line and aesthetic that CRM had. Overall the house is well presented but the lighting is atrocious. Yes I understand they have sun blinds to protect furnishing and interior, but the upstairs hall and some of the rooms are really woefully lit and you can’t appreciate them. Thankfully my phone photos without flash using low light setting capture more than is actually visible to the naked eye. The entry fee £14 per adult is a bit expensive but on par with most other NTS venues of this nature. Free parking for a change so that is good. Nice cafe and gift shop.

Hill house beautiful gardens have been upgraded by skilled gardeners apple trees and veg patch are looking fab.Seated areas in the garden are welcoming. The cafe is friendly efficient food is tasty. My favourite cup of soup & sandwich and great coffees and scones A good selection of cakes too! Never disappointed here the staff are professionals. Open airy roof canopy area cafe is great too bright and spacious relaxed comfy seating.Highly recommended

What an amazing place. The Rennie Mc.Intosh interior is stunning, and the way the trust has chosen to dry out the building, is ingenious. The cafe was lovely too. Keep up the great work everyone.

Wonderful architecture and design. A Macintosh masterpiece. Now sheltered inside a protective cover to allow for conservation work which provides for raised walkways (and a great cafe) to get new perspectives on the house

If you are a fan of Macintosh and the Scottish answer to Arts and Crafts movement this is definitely a must see. Although you cannot touch, it is open and visible. Very knowledgeable docents and a lovely excursion in Helensburgh.

What a treasure. Happened upon Hill House and so glad I did. Not the usual stately home but an iconic, artistic find. Amazing to believe it was created in early 1900s. Way ahead of its time. Beautiful yet functional. Loved the detail such as the 3 taps in Mrs B's flower room.

Hill House is one of the most approachable of Mackintosh's buildings, as it is one you can relate to on a very human scale. It was a commission for a family home, and consequently it's not as large as some of his other works. What is so astonishing is how contemporary the rooms still look today, a testament to the enduring quality of Mackintosh's designs. The highlight for me is the downstairs lounge with its large window alcove - it's just a fantastic room to be in and really demonstrates that first and foremost, this was a family home that was meant to be lived in. The boy's bedroom with its under-stair toy cupboard-cum-den is also great. How I would have loved a room like that as a child! The upstairs rooms are largely given over to Trust displays and exhibitions about the house, Mackintosh and his work. The displays about the choices of shapes and colours used are particularly interesting and give an insight into the design ethos that underlies all of Mackintosh's work - an approach that today we could call nothing less than holistic. There are two NT shops as well, one selling (as you would expect) Mackintosh-themed designs; the other more select artisanal and designer wares.

Students of art history will enjoy this place. Certainly is it shows off the style to good effect. Pretty but impractical and eventually there is just too much of a good thing and it can leave you a little jaded. Standard NTS prices and these are quite exciting at £9 a head.

A wonderful national trust property that is well worth a visit if you enjoy such things and/or Charles rennie mackintosh. Beautiful details everywhere made for lots of oohing and ahing. Entry is a bit steep at £10.50 per adult so either get a national trust membership or get the days out guide 2for1 voucher which you can use if you have a valid train ticket for the day. Nice shop and cafe and gardens with views worth having a wander in. The cafe is cute but expensive with cake costing around £3.65 a slice so we just had lots of tea as the cake options were dwindling. A fun day out!

Set amongst the tony homes of Helensburgh sits Charles Rennie Mackintosh's grand dame of domestic designs. The Blackie family gave Mackintosh carte blanche to design everything in the house, so it's a real show-stopper. The lamps, the chairs, the rugs, the wallpaper, the furniture...all very Rennie. To be honest, I found it a bit oppressive as a place to live--all those straight lines and squares and pink roses. Thank goodness for the touches from Margaret McDonald, who brought a bit of organic vivacity into the proceedings. But although it's not to my interior decorating taste, it's a fascinating look into the Mackintosh style and well worth the trip.

If you ever get the chance, go see it. I did not understand Mackintosh until I saw the total environment he made in this house. Everything in it was his design -- from the door hinges to the carpets to the bookshelves to the light fixtures. It still looks very modern and unexpectedly, very comfy and liveable. It is a house designed for a couple with children and this is the most touching thing about it. The kid's rooms. The hiding places in little cupboards with windows. Even where each person's bedroom was situated. There is love and genius in all the details. Quintessentially Scottish. Must see.