Big country houses have a reputation - which is for the most part warranted - for being drafty and not always particularly homely, especially as the colder months roll around each year.

But the fear that Hopetoun House in South Queensferry could ever subscribe to this notion is unfounded, because this is one place of residence that comes into its own each Christmas time thanks to a scurry of diligent staff, one yuletide-loving Lord, and some unexpected treats from its estate.

Built between 1699 and 1701, Hopetoun House stands today not only as the home of Lord Hopetoun and his family who live in the left side of the building, but a popular visitor attraction in the right side which is open to the public for much of the year. Supplementary to the house is its estate: some 150 acres where all manner of produce is grown and raised including bees who make Hopetoun Honey, livestock, game and traditional fare from the award-winning farm shop located in the grounds.

Hopetoun Farm Shop's butchery section, where customers can order a plethora of meats including turkey and beef raised on the estate itself, is the busiest over the festive season. It's the first year that the business has expanded to make its own pies (some whoppers big enough for up to 10 people) as well as the necessary accompaniments to dinner - cheese, condiments and chipolatas can all be found on-site.

To have a well-stocked shop full of independent brands and goods located just minutes down the road will come as a both a relief to the Hopetoun family (no midnight treks to the corner shop for a packet of bread sauce) and a delight to their guests this year, who total between 12 and 25 ranging in age from 13 to 75 and who will enjoy Christmas dinner at the house. It is also assumed that those giant steak pies will come in handy at New Year, where 35 of the teenage Hopes' friends will enjoy the run of the house and what it contains: including some of the most sumptuous and extensive decorations most of us will see in our lifetimes.

Led by the house's education and housekeeping teams, the State Rooms have been given a festive refresh in the form of floral arrangements from Planet Flowers, while Lady Hopetoun herself has set to work decorating the Main Hall, private family apartments and primary Christmas tree (there are five in total throughout the residence). Many of the adornments to the tree have been collected by Lord Hopetoun's father, mother and grandfather, and are interspersed with pieces accrued by the house's current inhabitants (duly replaced when broken by over-excited children or dogs, much like many other households in the land).

Preparation for Christmas coincides with the festive events that are held at Hopetoun House throughout December, starting with a shopping market at the beginning of the month. On the 13th, Christmas craft workshops for families will teach guests how to create their own decorations using natural resources collected from around the estate and ground of Hopetoun.

Of course, in a place as grand as Hopetoun it would make no sense to hold the Christmas party anywhere other than the house itself. This year, Lord Hopetoun will invite those working for the estate and house as well as volunteer guides, seasonal staff, board members and trustees to a Christmas lunch held in the ballroom serving meat sourced from estate and grounds (an Iceland party buffet tends to prove unpopular when you have beautifully high-end produce on the doorstep, one would presume). As well as welcoming and entertaining those who have contributed to the house's success throughout the year, the festive period is also cause for celebration in a different sense for some guests: the venue serves as a wedding venue all year round, and two will take place on the weekend before Christmas. 

For Lord Hopetoun, Christmas is a particular highlight for the year as it allows all those who the house means so much to enjoy its setting in a convivial sense rather than being 'on-duty'. 

"I love Christmas becausenot only is it a home to our family (and has been for over 300 years), it is a wonderful place to fill with people and to celebrate this special time of year," he says.

"The State Dining Room, with its gold walls and red curtains, looks terrific on Christmas Day, especially with its large dining table brimming with delicious food.

"The house has a wonderful atmosphere over the holidays and it is also my wife's favourite time of year which makes it very special."

Hopetoun Farm Shop will be open until Christmas eve at 4pm and will reopen Sunday 28th December. For more information about Christmas opening times click here and for information on what's on at Hopetoun House over the festive period click here.