Scottish Gardens

Abriachan Nursery Loch Ness Side, nr. Inverness, Highland. Although Abriachan is a plant nursery, there is a delightful, small, steep garden with many interesting alpines that can be viewed any day of the week. The lower part of the south facing garden is warm and open, higher up it enters a woodland. An inspiration to cold-climate gardeners.

Achamore House Isle of Giha, Argyll and Bute. More recent in their creation, these gardens were only begun in 1944. The Island has moderate rainfall and is virtually frost-free and wildflowers flourish in profusion.

Ardkinglass Woodland Garden Cairndow, Argyll and Bute. Contains one of Britain's finest collection of conifers, including Britain's largest conifer dating back to 1790, and a spectacular display of rhododendrons. Extensive redevelopment is in progress.

Arduaine Garden (NTS) nr. Kilmelford, Argyll and Bute. On A816, 20m south of Oban and 17m north of Lochgilphead A haven of tranquillity nestling on the west coast, Arduaine Garden is most spectacular in the late spring and early summer when the rhododendrons and azaleas are at their glorious best.

Armadale Castle Armadale, Isle of Skye. The 40 acres of exotic trees, shrubs and flowers which make Armadale Castle Gardens, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, are remarkable for their beauty and for their very existence. The warm, generally frost-free, climate of the west coast of Scotland - a result of the Gulf Stream allow the sheltered gardens to flourish.

Balmacara Estate & Lochalsh Woodland Garden (NTS) nr. Kyle of Lochalsh, Highland. The Lochalsh Woodland Garden, 2 miles east of Kyle of Lochalsh on the A87, provides pleasant walks beside the loch. Mature Scots pine, oaks and beeches with developing collections of bamboo, ferns, fuchsias, hydrangeas and rhododendrons give the garden its attractive diversity.

Brodick Castle Gardens.Isle of Arran. The woodland garden, begun in 1923 by the Duchess, is now home to an internationally acclaimed rhododendron collection. The walled garden dating from 1710 has been restored as a Victorian garden. The Country Park has waymarked trails, woodlands, waterfalls, gorges, wildlife ponds, a nature room and wildlife garden.

Broughton House and Garden, Kirkcudbright. Fascinating garden with Japanese influences, which leads down to the estuary of the Dee.

Castle Fraser and Garden, west of Aberdeen.

Cawdor Castle Nairn, Highland. Superb formal gardens, including a parterre, surrounding a 14th century castle. Five woodland walks.

Crarae Gardens (NTS) Minard, Argyll and Bute. One of Scotland's most naturally beautiful gardens. Famous for plants from all over the world, many are unfamiliar even to trained plantsmen.

Crathes Castle & Garden (NTS) nr. Banchory, Aberdeenshire. The garden beside this romantic chateau-like Scottish tower house, with its little round towers and square overhanging turrets, was very much the brainchild of Sir James Burnett and his wife Lady Sybil.

Drum Castle and Garden (NTS) Peterculter, nr. Aberdeen. In the walled garden, the Trust has created a unique Garden of Historic Roses.

Geilston Garden, north of Glasgow.

Glen Grant Distillery Garden Rothes, nr. Elgin, Moray. Three years of painstaking work, using historical evidence, old maps and the vivid memories of the local people have restored Glen Grant Gardens to the magnificent sight it was in Victorian days.

Greenbank Garden, south of Glasgow.

Harmony Garden, Melrose.

Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse and Garden south of Cupar.

Inveresk Lodge Garden, east of Edinburgh.

Inverewe Garden (NTS) Poolewe, Gairloch, Highland. Here you will see the tallest Australian gum trees in Britain, sweetly scented Chinese rhododendrons, exotic trees from Chile and Blue Nile lilies from South Africa, all growing on a latitude more northerly than Moscow?

Inschriach Alpine Nursery Aviemore, Highland. This is also known as Jack Drake's Nursery, though he is no longer the proprietor. There is a fascinating small garden that is attractive in spring and early summer and can be viewed on any day except Sunday.

Kellie Castle and Garden, near Pittenweem.

Kinlochlaich House Garden Plant Centre nr. Appin, Oban, Aryll and Bute. Strictly speaking, not a garden any longer but established in an old walled garden. This plant centre specialises in plants for the garden in amazing variety; more than most city planterias. Possibly Scotland's largest selection!

Leith Hall and Garden (NTS) Kennethmont, Insch, Aberdeenshire. A 286-acre estate with ponds, trails, a bird observation hide, a hilltop viewpoint, unusual semicircular 18th-century stables and an ice house. The formal and informal gardens, with extensive borders, are noted for their colour and diversity. The rock garden has recently been enhanced by Scottish Rock Garden Cub.

Malleny Garden Off the A70, in Balerno, 6m west of Edinburgh city centre

Pitmedden Garden (NTS) Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire. The centrepiece of this property is the Great Garden which was originally laid out in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Baronet of Pitmedden. The elaborate designs, now carefully re-created, were inspired by the garden at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Priorwood Garden and Dried Flower Shop In the Border town of Melrose, beside the Abbey.

Threave Garden and Estate Off A75, 1m west of Castle Douglas

Younger Botanic Garden Benmore, nr. Dunoon, Argyll and Bute. Set in mountainous terrain, the Benmore Gardens are a sub-station of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. Reflecting the two collections that dominate the Garden, Benmore has been rightly described as both a living textbook of the genus Rhododendron, and with its unrivaled diversity of coniferous trees, as a National Pinetum.

Royal Horticultural Society Includes The Lindley Library , RHS Database, Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Finders.

Return to Scottish Links