Visitors looking for green spaces to visit this spring can use the Discover Scottish Gardens website and latest edition of their printed map to find awe-inspiring gardens that offer perfect places to spend the day, or make a stop if you are passing by - many have lovely tearooms and cafes for a bite to eat too!
From the very southwest corner, you can find peaceful spaces to unwind for walks amongst stunning rhododendrons as well as ponds lined with bluebells at the magical Castle Kennedy Gardens. Just down the road, Glenwhan Gardens offers visitors a large collection of plants including unique rhododendrons, along with a moorland walk to tick off your bucket list. This serene walkway is lined with bluebells which appear to stretch as far as the eye can see.
If you are craving the coastline or a cliff-top castle garden, then Culzean Castle and Country Park serves up a top spot for everyone to enjoy with fresh sea breezes and plenty of space for the whole family, four-legged friends included.
Explore the vast gardens, grounds, and house of Mount Stuart where you will be dazzled by incredible rhododendrons and magnolias that fill the landscape with bold colours. Breath-taking displays of daffodils and dreamy woodland walks amongst carpets of bluebells are guaranteed to fill your heart with joy.
Two perfect spring spots, located within an hour’s drive of Glasgow, are Geilston Garden and Glenarn. At Geilston Garden, visitors can find sprawls of daffodils to dip and dive through with the whole family as well as beautiful woodland walks with bluebells, trilliums, and the sweet scented lily-of-the-valley.
Glenarn is a treasure trove for garden enthusiasts with its collection of rare and wide variety of rhododendrons, towering Asiatic magnolias, and large rock garden not to be missed.
For those looking for some adventure, Benmore Botanic Garden is a mountainside garden with a world-leading collection of rhododendrons which cover the slopes with brilliant reds, dazzling pinks, and dainty whites throughout the spring and early summer months.
A contender for one of the best family-friendly gardens, Ardkinglas Estate, will treat families to fun and adventure with the Gruffalo and Fairy Trails as well as the Snakey Slide. Again, rhododendrons and bluebell displays will capture the imagination of all visitors.
If it is hidden gems that appeal, then off the beaten track you will strike gold when visiting Angus’s Garden and Ardmaddy Castle Gardens, with their tranquil spaces surrounded with vibrant rhododendrons and azaleas and mature woodlands carpeted with bluebells. Not to be missed when visiting the area, An Cala is tucked away on the Isle of Seil boasting spectacular views, delicate cherry trees, and ponds, streams, and even a waterfall.
Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds delivers both a heritage and garden experience for those looking to learn more about Highland social history and enjoy a walk through the seasonal delights of Dunollie Woods, which has been inhabited for thousands of years.
For a truly unique experience, visit the Himalayan Garden at the Kilchoan Estate for a vast array of Himalayan and sino-Himalayan species of trees, rhododendrons, and herbaceous flora like Himalayan Poppies (Meconopsis) and Primula.
There are hundreds of beautiful gardens across Scotland welcoming visitors throughout the year. Always check ahead with each garden on opening times and be mindful of how weather may impact openings and events. Be sure to pick-up the latest edition of the Discover Scottish Gardens map, which will hit tourist information points and major leaflet stands across Scotland by 1st April, 2024.
Visit www.discoverscottishgardens.org to explore hundreds of gardens across Scotland and for the latest news of year-round events and activities taking place in Scottish gardens.