DISCOVER SCOTTISH GARDENS
Why not make your way around the many gardens who house these traditional walled gardens and see them at their peak displays through the summer? Here are 13 great examples, handpicked by the Discover Scottish Gardens team, although there are many more for you to tick off your list when visiting Scottish gardens.
The Walled Garden at Cawdor Castle is the original kitchen garden and the oldest at Cawdor. Having been remodelled in 1981, it now hosts the Symbolic Gardens which were designed by current owner, the Dowager Countess of Cawdor. The Walled Garden plays home to a sculptural maze containing over 1200 holly plants. Enjoy the wealth of flora and fauna in Cawdor’s beautiful gardens as they change through the seasons.
A hidden gem situated between the River Spey and the Moray Coast, Gordon Castle Walled Garden is one of the oldest and largest kitchen gardens in Britain. The walled garden has recently been restored to its former glory with a modern design by world famous designer Arne Maynard. A small team of dedicated gardeners see to this productive garden’s success with a myriad of herbs, cut flowers, fruit and vegetables, all grown within its ancient walls, making the garden as beautiful as it is fruitful.
Ballindalloch Castle & Gardens
The walled garden at Ballindalloch Castle was once used to grow fruit and vegetables but in 1996 it was redesigned into a rose garden to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Castle. Located north of the Castle, a Laburnum arch and tree-lined avenue leads to the magnificent Walled Garden which houses a profusion of colour and perfume all year round. It is truly an oasis of fragrance and beauty.
Blair Castle & Gardens
The Hercules Garden is a stunning nine acre walled garden restored to its original Georgian design. Named after the life-sized statue of Hercules which overlooks the garden, it incorporates landscaped ponds, a folly, a Chinese bridge, and an impressive orchard of over 100 fruit trees. The glory of this garden in summer are the herbaceous borders which run along the 275m (902’) south-facing wall.
Backhouse Rossie Estate
The Walled Garden at Backhouse Rossie Estate is known for its unique themes of art and science throughout the gardens as well as the longest interrupted rose archway in Scotland. The Walled Garden’s herbaceous borders home unusual and heritage plants bred or introduced by ancestors of the family, the Quaker Backhouse horticulturalists and includes a National Collection of daffodils Narcissus, alpine, and heather plantings.
Teasses Gardens
Teasses Gardens have been developed by the present owners since the year 2000 and sit on the historic Teasses Estate. The 60 acre gardens comprise of a restored Victorian walled garden, formal gardens, and decorative woodlands. Open Thursdays from 10am-4pm from April- September, do not miss your chance to wander around this gem in the Fife countryside.
Cambo Gardens
Many garden lovers will be aware of the renowned walled garden at Cambo Gardens. The owners and designers have created an awesome space with a modern twist within this iconic Georgian walled garden. Featuring a variety of inspirational planting schemes and a range of unusual plants, you can easily while away an hour or two in this all-seasons plantsman's paradise.
Archerfield Walled Garden
Built in the late 1780s, Archerfield Walled Garden originally provided produce to Archerfield House. In 2013, after redevelopment, the Walled Garden opened its gates to the public and now offers a garden café, food market, and plant shop. The regeneration of the garden itself began in 2015 under the direction of the then head gardener Erica Randall. There is plenty to explore including a perennial meadow, rose garden, wildlife area with pond and stumpery, perennial vegetable bed, productive tunnel and potager and flower beds for cutting and drying.
Amisfield Walled Garden
Dating from the late 18th Century Amisfield Walled Garden is one of the largest walled gardens in Scotland with extensive herbaceous borders, fruit and vegetable beds, wildflower meadow, orchard, and woodland plantings. Amisfield is a community garden managed by the Amisfield Preservation Trust and a large band of locals who meet up four times a week for voluntary sessions. A family and dog friendly place, enjoy the year-round displays on offer here as the seasons usher in ever changing colours and textures.
Pitmedden Garden
Dating back to 1675, Pitmedden was originally laid out by Sir Alexander Seton. The National Trust for Scotland re-created the garden in the 1950s and then began to redesign the gardens from 2018, where plans were completed in 2021. The Upper Terrace Parterre was reimagined for the modern world with a fresh, sustainable garden. Thereon, a biodiverse, species-rich meadow weaves through the grounds with changing patterns and colours. With more than 200 fruit trees now in the garden, Pitmedden is an absolute delight for the senses.
Pitmuies Gardens
Two semi-formal walled gardens adjoin the 18th century house and shelter long borders of herbaceous perennials, superb delphiniums, old fashioned roses with violas and Dianthus. The Kitchen Garden is a productive garden providing fruit and vegetables for the house, playing home to some very old apple and pear trees. The Formal Garden boasts beautiful summer borders, a rose garden and a cherry tree walk to name a few themes in this well-maintained garden.
Abbotsford
Abbotsford's three walled gardens were designed by Sir Walter Scott in the 1820s to surround his 'Conundrum Castle' and remain virtually intact today. The South Court was an exercise in new ideas exploring the transition from inside to outside. The Kitchen Garden has been in continuous cultivation, with colourful herbaceous borders, trained fruit and heritage vegetables, and a beautiful Gothic Conservatory based on a medieval pavilion. The East Court is a quiet, sunken garden flanked by the lofty castle-like east facade, with its charming clairvoyee and flag-tower-cum-fruit and seed store.
Ardmaddy Castle Gardens
The walled garden at Ardmaddy is shielded to the north by mature woodlands and protected from the Atlantic winds by the elevated Castle to the south. The garden was formed on the site of the barracks of the 1745 Rebellion. From 1940 to 1960, it was run as a market garden and from then a Rhododendron enthusiast grew and hybridized a huge variety of the plants. From 1980 to the present day, Minette Struthers has developed the walled garden to its present state, full of magnificent rhododendrons, and an increasing collection of rare and unusual botanical offerings.
If you are interested in visiting many of the hundreds of gardens welcoming visitors all year round with beautiful walled gardens, you can use the Discover Scottish Gardens website to map out your own route and include these gems with walled gardens too: Kailzie Gardens, Floors Castle, Portmore Gardens, Cringletie, Glamis Castle, Raasay Walled Garden, Mount Stuart.
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 in tourist information points and leaflet stands across Scotland to discover all the wonderful gardens open across Scotland to visit.
Our latest Scotland Grows Show episode takes you on a tour of some stunning Highland Gardnes to offer more garden inspiration.
