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Gardens
open to the public in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland & Eire
Gardens
open to the public to visit in Scotland
Before
visiting, please check current opening times/dates.
Perhaps
you would like a customised self-drive tour to visit some
of Scotland's best gardens? Scotland
Made Easy can plan a personal itinerary to suit your interests,
budget and time available. They will book you into recommended
accommodation where you are assured of quality, comfort and
hospitality - usually in 4 star B&Bs in Scottish homes. Optional
'specials' include a night in a castle, church, lighthouse,
country mansion, etc.
Whether you have already decided which places you want to
visit or if you haven't a clue where to start, Scotland
Made Easy will advise and take care of all the planning
for you. They are accredited by the Highlands of Scotland
Tourist Board.
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
- Castle
Kennedy Gardens
Just 5 miles east of Stranraer in south-west Scotland
are the colourful grounds of ruined Castle Kennedy feauturing
rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and embrothriums. Open
daily from 10am to 5pm from Easter until the end of September.
Price approx. 2 UK pounds for adults, 1 UK pound for children.
Light refreshments are available and you can also buy
plants. Tel: 01776 702024.
- Glenwhan
Gardens
Located at Dunragit, by Stranraer, these hilltop gardens
spread over 12 acres are open daily from mid March to
mid October. Restaurant and nursery also open daily. See
their web page or Tel: 01581 400 222 / Fax: 01581
400 222 for further details.
- Woodfall
Gardens Nursery (Glasserton, Whithorn, Newton
Stewart, Galloway) includes a historic 3-acre walled garden
which is open Thursdays and Sundays. Plants for sale all
year round. Tel: 01988 500692
SCOTTISH BORDERS
Kailzie
Garden
At Kailzie, near Peebles, you can explore walled gardens,
herbaceous borders, greenhouses and woodland walks in 17
acres of grounds. Stocked fishing pond, plants for sale,
art gallery. Contact Lady Angela Buchan-Hepburn. Tel: 01721
720 007.
Brodick
Castle and Gardens
Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, this red sandstone
castle nestles in dark trees at the foot of Goatfell mountain
1.5 miles out of Brodick. The colourful gardens which feature
lots of rhododendrons, include:
- the walled
garden,
- the "Ice
House" where they used to pack ice in the winter
in a hole in the ground and then store it ready for
the summer,
- the Bavarian
Summer House, a hexagonal wooden structure built in
1845 and decorated with elaborate arrangements of fir
cones.
Once
you are inside the castle grounds, you can also take advantage
of several walking trails, including one leading up Goatfell
mountain (874 metres) and another to the intriguingly named
"Duchesses' Bathing Pool". There's an adventure
playground to amuse the children and a Ranger Service covering
the 600-acre estate. I believe that weather information
is given at their hut.
The
castle is open daily from April to October 11am - 4.30pm.
The Country Park is open all year round every day from 9.30am
until sunset. Telephone: +44 1770 302202 / Fax: +44 1770
302312. There's a licensed restaurant and souvenir shop.
More
details....
Ardencraig
Gardens
Located just to the east of Rothesay at Ardencraig. You
can visit the gardens and also see aviaries of foreign birds
and exotic fish ponds in the grounds of Ardencraig House.
There is a tea room. The gardens were bought by the Royal
Burgh of Rothesay in 1968 and admission is totally free.
Please note that the house is not open to the public. Access
to the gardens is from 1 May - 30 September, Monday to Friday
9am - 4.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays 1pm - 4.30pm.
Ascog
Hall Victorian Fernery
Continuing on the road leading south out of Rothesay, you
reach Ascog Hall which opens its marvellous restored Victorian
fernery to visitors 10am - 5pm from mid-April to mid-October
(closed on Mondays & Tuesdays). For further details, telephone
the owners Wallace and Katherine Fyfe on 01700 504 555.
Ferns are on sale I believe.
Mount
Stuart House and Gardens
First opened to visitors in 1995, Mount Stuart won the Scottish
Tourism Oscar Award. It is a Victorian Gothic house with
wonderful architecture both outside and inside. The interiors
are absolutely sumptuous. The gardens are also very beautiful
and there is a countryside ranger service which offers guided
walks. 300 acres of woodland. Tea room and restaurant, gift
shop, picnic areas. Coach parties are welcome, but it is
best to book in advance.
Located about 5 miles south of Rothesay, easily accessible
by car or bike. There is also a shuttle bus service from
Rothesay and a Courtesy Bus then operates from the entrance
up to the House. The gardens open 5 days a week (not Tuesdays
or Thursdays) 10am - 5pm from May 1 - 30 September and weekends
in April and October. House open 5 days a week (not Tuesdays
or Thursdays) 11am - 5pm from May 1 - 30 September. Telephone
01700 503 877 / Fax: 01700 505 313.
Jura
House and Gardens
Located 5 miles from the ferry at a place called Ardfin
or White Promontory, Jura House was built by the Campbells
in the middle of the last century. Only the grounds are
open to the public. Inside the gate is an honesty box and
a huge map. The small admission charge includes a little
guide book to the two walks you can try (one short, one
long). Open all year 9am-5pm.Tea tent in season.
Follow
the path down to the grey coloured beach and you will find
it is made from grains of the local quartzite. Further along,
the path runs next to some of the famous Jura slate. You
can buy plants in the walled garden. The longer walk will
take you to The Misty Pool, waterfall, Bronze Age burial
cairn and also a Neolithic chambered burial cairn thought
to be 2000 years old.
EDINBURGH
Redhall
is a beautiful working 18th century walled garden, run on
holistic, organic principles in the most scenic part of
Edinburgh - Colinton Dell. It is managed by Scottish Association
For Mental Health and strives to explore the therapeutic
benefits of horticulture on well-being. It has many unusual
features including a wood henge, round house, zen garden,
wildlife area, bog garden, as well as demonstration veg
and herbaceous beds. Entry is Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm by donation.
Plants, compost, barkchip, leafmould for sale depending
on availability. Community Garden Fun Day - Saturday June
25th 2005. Address: 97 Lanark Road, Edinburgh EH14 6LZ.
Tel: 01314430946. Email: redhall@samhservices.org.uk
DUNDEE REGION
Edzell
Castle and Gardens
Some 30 miles north of Dundee which is on the Scottish east
coast, are the ruins of Edzell Castle with its walled Renaissance
garden called 'The Pleasance' containing stone carvings
and many plants including the fleur de lys, shamrock, rose
and thistle, symbols of France, Ireland, England and Scotland.
ST
ANDREWS AREA
Cambo
Gardens
2.5 acre Victorian walled garden. 70 acres of woodland carpeted
with snowdrops. 10 minutes drive south of St Andrews. Recommended
by the Good Garden Guide 2001. Open all year round 10am
to dusk. Entry by honesty box £2.50 per adult. Children
free. Dogs welcome on leads. Coaches welcome. Mail order
service available for snowdrops and aconites.
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FIFE
Arnot
Tower Gardens
10 acres of beautifully restored gardens and mature
ornamental woodland surrounding the ruins of Arnot Tower
(built in the early 1400s). Situated on the border with
Fife and Kinross-shire. 35 minutes from Edinburgh, Perth,
Dundee and St Andrews, and 75 minutes from Glasgow.
Wonderful venue for stylish and romantic wedding receptions.
Available on an exclusive basis to ensure total privacy.
Corporate dinners and dances, musical and theatrical
evenings, product launches and fashion shows can all
be catered for using different arrangements of the sweeping
lawns, terraces and garden rooms.
The gardens are open to the public at certain times
under Scotland's
Garden Scheme.
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Crarae
Gardens
Located on Loch Fyne 12 miles from Inveraray, this is a
traditional Highland Garden - not formal - and very beautiful
in Spring and Autumn. Gardens are open all year. Visitor
Centre open daily from 1 April to 30 September. Owned by
The National Trust for Scotland since April 2002.
The
Herb Garden
Plant sales and B&B on the shores of Loch Fyne at Lochgair.
Tel: +44 (0)1546 88 66 05 or visit web
site.
Arduaine
Garden
Situated 20 miles south of Oban and 17 miles north of Lochgilphead
on the A816 road. This sheltered garden on the west coast
benefits from the Gulf Stream which enables alsorts of unexpected
plants to grow here. There are also informal lawns and shrubberies,
a wild woodland garden, plus many streams and ponds. Famed
for its rhododendrons and azaleas. Open all year every day
from 9.30am til sunset. Telephone: 01852 200366.
Ardchattan
Priory Ruins and Garden
Located 7 miles east of Oban, this is one of three Valliscaulian
houses and was founded in 1231 by Duncan MacDougall, Lord
of Lorne. It is said that the last Parliament meeting to
be conducted in Gaelic was held here by Robert the Bruce
in 1308 or 1309 (depending on which history books you read).
The history books also say that it was burned by Cromwell's
soldiers in 1654. The house is apparently the second oldest
inhabited house in Scotland. Honesty box for access to the
gardens and priory ruins which are open 9am-6pm from 1 April
(or Good Friday if earlier) to 31 October.
Ardkinglas
Woodland Garden
Located at the head of Loch Fyne (signposted off the A83
between Loch Lomond - Inveraray). Home to one of the finest
collections of conifers in Britain including many Champion
Trees. Good displays of rhododendrons and azaleas. There
is a woodland lochan and a gazebo which houses a unique
'Scriptorium'. The garden is open daylight hours all year
round and there is an admission fee. Car park, picnic area,
plant & gift sales and toilet facilities are available at
the garden. Refreshments are available at the Tree Shop
nearby.
Kinlochlaich
House
Near the Police Station at Appin between Oban and Fort William
you can visit Kinlochlaich House which has the largest Nursery
Garden Centre in Scotland. It is open every day (except
Sundays from mid-October to March).
Ardsheal
House
Near Ballachulish, 17 miles south of Fort William and 25
miles north of Oban. An 11-acre garden overlooking Loch
Linnhe & surrounding an old Stewart mansion house which
offers B&B. Gardens open: 1 April - 30 September, 9am -
5pm.
Isle
of Lismore
In Gaelic the name means 'great garden'. There are nearly
300 different types of plants and wild flowers on this little
island. Well worth a visit - passenger ferry from Port Appin
and car ferry from Oban. Much ancient history too.
Torosay
Castle and Gardens
Sitting in twelve acres of ornamental gardens, Torosay Castle
is a Victorian mansion built in 1858 by the Scottish architect
David Bryce. It is very much a family home, with the upper
floors still lived in. Easily accessible from the Craignure
ferry either by car or the unique miniature railway.
The
grounds include a series of magnificent Italian statues,
sculpted fountains, water garden, Japanese garden, rockery,
stone lions, a domed folly and elaborate square towers on
the edge of the terrace which house a very comprehensive
display of the geological history of Mull, complete with
photographs, timecharts and models. Well worth a visit.
The
Castle is only open from mid April to mid October, 7 days
a week, 10.30am - 5.30pm. The gardens are open all year
round: daylight hours only in winter, and 9am-7pm in summer.
Tearoom serving light meals and refreshments. Craft/souvenir
shop. Limited disabled access. Telephone 01680 812 421.
Lochalsh
Woodland Garden
Located at Balmacara between Eilean
Donan Castle and Kyle of Lochalsh. Walks along the shores
of Loch Alsh amongst Scots pine, oak and beech trees with
bamboo, ferns, fuchsias, hydrangeas and rhododendrons in
the garden. Ranger guided walks in season. Open all year
every day from 9am til sunset. Telephone 01599 566325.
Speyside
Heather Garden
Halfway between Grantown-on-Spey and the Boat of Garten
is the multi-award winning Speyside Heather Garden and Visitor
Centre at Skye of Curr, Dulnain Bridge. See over 300 varieties
of heather in the garden, visit the exhibition on the many
uses of the plant, buy some to take home, shop for crafts,
jewellery, clothes, garden produce. Restaurant (the famous
Scottish Clootie Dumpling pudding is a speciality here).
Open daily from 1 March to 31 October. Slightly reduced
opening times during the winter. Telephone 01479 851 359
/ fax: 01479 851 369. Visited by 80,000 people a year.
Inshriach
Alpine Plant Nursery
Scotland's premier Alpine Plant Nursery specialist is located
4 miles south of Aviemore on the B970. It is open to visitors
from 9am - 5pm daily from mid February to mid November.
Walk around the gardens and purchase some of the thousands
of plants on display. Mail order catalogues available. More
details online... Tel. 01540 651287.
Revack
Estate
Located on the B970 road between Grantown-on-Spey and Nethy
Bridge, Revack Lodge was built as a shooting lodge some
time around 1860. Today you can visit parts of the 15,000-acre
estate where there are nature trails, adventure playground,
plant centre and garden (orchids a speciality), restaurant
and gift shop. Open all year from 10 am to 6 pm. Free entry
apparently. Coaches by appointment only. Tel: 01479 872
234 / Fax: 01479 872 722.
INVERNESS
REGION
Inverness won the 1996 award
for Best large town in the Bloom of Britain competition
and is a colourful city with many floral displays in summertime.
Cross the river on the little Ness bridges and you can visit
Bught Park. Closeby between the ice rink and the sports
centre is the Floral Hall - a sub-tropical horticultural
extravaganza with small waterfall, fish and alsorts of plants/trees
(open all year round). The cactus hall is quite a surprise!
The Inverness Flower and Garden Festival is held each year
on the last weekend in August in the Sports Centre.
Cawdor
Castle
This is one of my personal favourites. Set in wooded grounds
12 miles east of Inverness, the castle dates from the early
14th century and is well worth a visit. Outside to the rear,
the blue bridge spans Cawdor burn (a stream) which flows
into the River Nairn. Cross it and you will find the start
of many signposted nature trails in the vast expanse of
woodland.
The
walled garden features on many postcards of the castle.
It provides a colourful contrast to the stony backdrop of
the building. In the summer, flower beds of reds, oranges,
purples and whites vie for attention with the tunnel of
roses and Copper beeches. There is also a walled maze and
a 9-hole golf course. The castle and grounds are open daily
from 1 May to the second Sunday in October between 10am
and 5.30pm. Full
details and photos.
Brodie
Castle
This picturesque castle, 4.5 miles west of Forres and 24
miles east of Inverness, is a popular stopping place on
the visitors' trail for its fine interior and grounds. There's
a picnic area, adventure playground, woodland walks, gardens
and a lake. If you have chance to visit during the Spring,
the famous collection of daffodils will be in full bloom.
Admission
charges are 6 pounds for adults and 4.50 pounds for children,
or family tickets for 16.50 pounds. Group and school discounts.
Open from April to September, Monday to Saturday 11am -
5.30pm, Sunday 1.30pm to 5.30pm. In October the castle is
open on Saturdays 11am - 5.30pm and Sundays 1.30pm to 5.30pm.
Last entry is usually about an hour before the castle closes.
The grounds are open all year round every day. Tel: +44
1309 641 371 / fax +44 1309 641 600. It is owned by the
National
Trust of Scotland - see their site for more photos.
Various events are hosted here throughout the year including
theatre, musical events, teddybears picnic, ranger walks,
flower festivals.
Logie Steading
6 miles south of Forres. An art gallery, walled garden,
garden shop, tea room, crafts, antiques & rare books for
sale, etc. Open every day from the end of March to Christmas,
10.30am - 5pm. Phone 01309 611278.
Dunrobin
Castle
Seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland, this beautiful
castle with a French influence sits looking out across the
North Sea on Scotland's east coast a mile from Golspie.
The formal gardens were laid out in 1850 by Barry, the architect
who built the Victorian extension to Dunrobin and also the
Houses of Parliament in London.
The
castle is open every day from April to mid-October from
10.30am (except some Sundays when it doesn't open until
12 noon). The 1998 admission charges were 5 pounds for adults,
3.50 pounds for over 65s and children. Family tickets available
for 15 pounds. Tearoom. The gardens are open all year round
and entry is free of charge when the castle is closed. Limited
disabled access to the house. Telephone: 01408 633177.
- Achiltibuie
Hydroponicum
North of Ullapool, called the garden of the future,
full of exotic plants, fruit and vegetables which grow
without soil. Hourly guided tours. Gift shop and cafeteria.
Open daily from Easter to end-September 10am - 6pm.
Telephone 01854 622 202 / Fax: 01854 622 201.
The old conservatory
at Leckmelm Shrubbery |
- Leckmelm
Shrubbery and Arboretum: 3 miles from Ullapool
on the main road. 10 acres of grounds and a walled
garden. No parking for buses or large vehicles.
Entry fee: 1.50 pounds (honesty box). Originally
laid out in the 1870s by Mr. Pirie of Aberdeen,
it was redeveloped in 1985 and is now owned by
Mr. and Mrs. Troughton.
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- Inverewe
Gardens
To the west of Ullapool and 6 miles north-east of Gairloch,
on the A832 road, by Poolewe, are the very famous Inverewe
Gardens originally designed by Osgood Mackenzie. This
colourful sub-tropical garden owned by the National
Trust for Scotland is located further north than Moscow,
but thanks to the North Atlantic Drift, all kinds of
exotic plants grow here in 50 acres of land. Highly
recommended. The gardens are open daily all year round,
but the Visitor centre with restaurant and shop is only
open from April to October. Guided walks with the gardener
during the summer season take place Monday to Friday
starting at 1.30pm. Telephone 01445 781 200.
- From mid-May
to mid-September on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
only, a boat from Kylesku
will take you to Kerrachar
Gardens. The boat leaves at 1pm and takes 30
minutes each way. Cost: 10 pounds for boat trip plus
entrance to the gardens. Children under 12 travel free.
Children between 12 and 16 half price. Boat trips contact
- tel:01571 844446. Gardens contact - tel: 01571 83
32 88.
Other
useful links:
Scotland's
Garden Scheme
The National
Gardens Scheme (UK)
Glorious
Gardens of Argyll and Bute
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