A guide to Scottish gardens

by Kirsty Maxwell Stuart of Scotland's Garden Scheme

The cottage has been selected, arrangements made, packing done, and you?ve arrived at what may be a completely new part of Scotland or a familiar and much-loved area. Now comes the exciting part: choosing interesting things to do and see. More and more people are discovering that a visit to some of Scotland?s amazingly diverse gardens is the perfect way to enjoy what Scotland has to offer.

Seasoned garden visitors will arrive armed with copies of the Good Garden Guide, the Royal Horticultural Society?s new RHS Garden Finder, the National Trust for Scotland?s Guide to Properties and Scotland?s Gardens Scheme handbook, Gardens of Scotland.

A variety of alluring posters can be found in local hotels, village shops and the foyers of most of the houses and castles open to the public. Many of these locations have beautiful gardens as well.

Scotland?s Gardens Scheme?s bright yellow posters advertise many private gardens that open exclusively for the Scheme, usually on a Sunday. This gives visitors an opportunity to visit properties ranging from castles to groups of village gardens to which access is not otherwise available.

Although the majority of these open only for one day a year, many of the larger ones are open throughout the season. Failing that, a telephone number will often be given for making an appointment to visit these gardens. They will belong to keen gardeners who enjoy showing their garden to others, so rest assured that there is no need to be an expert in order to be welcomed!

Scotland?s West coast, with its shores washed by the Gulf Stream, is traditionally known for the splendour of its gardens in early summer. This is when rhododendrons, meconopsis (the wonderful blue poppies) and primulas are at their best, but a great deal of work has been done in recent years to extend the season of interest. A prime example is the blazing colour in the South African borders at Inverewe. Arduaine Garden is outstanding among many in Argyll, as is Ardchatton Priory, both open throughout the summer.

If visiting the Isle of Bute, for something quite different Ascog Hall should not be missed, where a crumbling Victorian fernery has been fully restored. For the adventurous, Kerrachar which is reached by ferry, is breathtaking. Further south, Culzean Castle and Carnell in Ayrshire and Finlaystone in Renfrew all make a rewarding day out.

Full summer is when gardens in the East come into their own, when their herbaceous borders are at their best. Two jewels in the crown of the National Trust for Scotland are Crathes and Leith Hall in Aberdeenshire. Further south, House of Pitmuies in Angus, Shepherd House near Edinburgh and Biggar Park in Clydesdale, which are all privately owned, will give great pleasure.

A delightful garden with the added interest of an Art Gallery is Broughton Place in Tweeddale, which can be combined with a visit to Dawyck Botanic Garden nearby.

A day?s sightseeing in Edinburgh could include the Royal Botanic Garden, full of interest all year round, and with greenhouses full of lush tropical planting into which to retreat when the weather turns threatening.

The choice is tremendous, as can be seen from a browse through any of the handbooks mentioned. Even if the distances can be quite great because of intervening lochs or mountains, the scenery on the way will almost certainly be spectacular. Good visiting!

Kirsty Maxwell Stuart
Vice President
Scotland?s Gardens Scheme

This article was originally "printed" in the August 2003 issue of Uniquely Unspoilt, a free monthly e-magazine for those with an interest in rural Scotland.

Cottages relevant to this article

The following holiday cottages are situated within easy reach of the locations mentioned above:

Edinburgh - Peffermill (slps 6)
approx. 10 mins from Royal Botanic Gardens
Near Oban - Dairy Cottage (slps 2)
approx. 25 miles from Ardchatton Priory
Peebles - The Old Mill at Drumelizer (slps 7)
approx. 5 miles from Dawyck Botanic Garden
Crathes - Knock Cottage (slps 4/6)
approx 30 miles from Crathes