Completely hidden from view, Yester House has never been opened to the public and only the 500-acre estate’s huge entrance gates, flanked by twin lodges, are visible at the end of a long straight avenue lined on either side by mature lime trees – a truly beautiful sight in all seasons. Throughout most of the 1700s both William Adam and his son Robert worked on the interior of the house, which has 14 bedrooms, five reception rooms and a magnificent ballroom said to have amazing acoustics. More recently it was the private family home of Italian/American composer Gian-Carlo Menotti until his death in 2007.

What can be clearly seen in Gifford are quaint cottages with flower-filled window boxes, a few shops, primary school, village hall, two hotels, two golf courses – Gifford Golf Course once famously described by a golfing magazine as ‘the best nine holes in Scotland’ – and a beautiful park that runs down to the Gifford Water. Historic landmarks include a Mercat Cross that has been standing in the same spot since it was erected in 1780, and a church that takes centre stage in the village and is even older, dating from 1710.

The location makes it an ideal base from which to explore, be it on foot, by bike or by car, the surrounding countryside, while Edinburgh and East Lothian’s many coastal attractions are also easily accessible. Apart from golf, for which the region is world famous, the area in and around Gifford is a haven for hill-walkers, cyclists, and ramblers with numerous well-signposted routes and paths.

Gifford is named after Sir Hugo de Giffard of Yester, whose ancient Scots/Norman family held the baronies of Yester, Morham and Duncanlaw around Haddington. His grandson, Hugh, was reputedly a magician who built a tower house at Yester – its ruins, which include a subterranean Goblin Hall or Ha, can still be seen in Yester Wood. The same Hobgoblin Hall featured in the poem Marmion, written by Sir Walter Scott – and is kept alive by a local hotel called the Goblin Ha.

Although now a quiet residential hamlet, up until the late 18th century Gifford’s local industry was a paper mill that supplied paper for Bank of Scotland bank notes. The village has several other claims to fame – Scottish reformer John Knox was born in Gifford in 1505, as was the Reverend John Witherspoon in 1723, who went on to become the sixth president of Princeton College (now Princeton University) in New Jersey – and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence of the United States on 4 July 1776.

A visit to Gifford makes a great day out or base for a holiday!