The grounds once belonged to the Abbey of Lindores,^[2] but by 1490 the Chalmers family had acquired them.^[2] An earlier House of Balbithan, of which there is now no trace, also stood above the River Don, opposite Kintore.^[2]

The Chalmers built the new house, probably as an oblong with one round tower, in about 1560.^[2] A second wing, added in about 1600, entailed the removal of the tower, which had been to the north-west.^[2]

Jacobites are supposed to have used the tower in 1746, after Culloden.^[2] The Chalmers sold the property to James Balfour, an Edinburgh merchant, in 1696.^[2] After a brief period – from 1699 to 1707 – in the ownership of the Hays, it came to be owned by a branch of the Gordons until 1859.^[2]

In the century to 1860 internal alterations were made. The top floor was removed early in the 19th century, and the second-floor ceilings were raised.^[2]

It was bought in 1960 by the botanical artist Mary McMurtrie,^[3] who restored it.^[2]

Balbithan House is an L-plan tower, unusual in that the new wing, dating from 1630, and the original are of equal length.^[2] There is an unvaulted kitchen on the ground floor, with the long hall, a long gallery or withdrawing room, and bedrooms successively above. A small addition on the north side, which housed a service stair, has been removed.^[2] Attached to the south turret of the west wing is a metal sundial; it is dated 1679 and carries the initials of James Chalmers.^[2] It is a category A listed building.^[4]

The gardens, recreated by McMurtrie, are regarded as important,^[1] and very fine.^[2]

• Balbithan House website
• Photo of Balbithan House
• Slade, H. Gordon (1972). "Balbithan House, Aberdeenshire" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 104: 257–267.

57°15′37″N 2°18′47″W / 57.260174°N 2.313054°W / 57.260174; -2.313054