A DALMELLINGTON estate is to host a new festival in 2016.

Craigengillan is the new venue for the Scottish Snowdrop Festival this year.

Parts of the house date back to the 16th century and it has a fascinating history and its 3,000 acre grounds are recognised by Historic Scotland in their Inventory of Designed Landscapes.

The event gives visitors the opportunity to see part of the carpet of snowdrops which emerge in a part of the gardens not normally accessible to the public. There will be the opportunity to enter the house through the stunning hallway built in 1905 to a stunning design by celebrated French architect Jan Sen, and enjoy tea and scones in the enchanting drawing room and dining room.

The refreshments are also exclusively available as part of the Scottish Snowdrop Festival.

For a truly unique experience, after exploring the snowdrops, visitors will be able to visit the Dark Sky Observatory as it gets dark.

The resident astronomer will give a presentation and, if the sky is clear, visitors will be able to star watch through the powerful telescope. You may see the Milky Way, shooting stars, planets, comets and the Northern Lights.

The festival gets underway from February 21 from 3pm until 7pm.