Spring has been wonderful and as we head into early summer we pick six beautiful Scottish gardens that are open to the public – and offer great places to visit s part of your campervanning holiday.
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation
This garden is found at Portpatrick House, Dumfries. It will be open for Scotland’s Gardens day on Sunday May 1, 2016, from 12pm-5pm.
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Dumfries. Pic credit: Flexdream
The stunning Garden of Cosmic Speculation has been created by Scottish landscape artist Charles Jencks and extends to 40 major areas including gardens, bridges, landforms, sculptures, terraces, fences and architectural works. The aim of the 30-acre garden is to “celebrate nature, both intellectually and through the senses, including the sense of humour”.
There are no pre-sale tickets, the entrance fee of £7(concessions £5, children under 16 free) is payable at the gate.
See Charles Jencks and Scotland’s Garden’s
Pitmedden Garden
Near Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Parterre garden at Pitmedden. Pic credit: Michael Hogan
Pitmedden features more than five miles of box hedging arranged in intricate patterns to form six parterres. These parterres are filled with some 40,000 plants bursting with colour in the summer.
The adjoining Museum of Farming Life brings the agricultural past to life. Visitors can also enjoy woodland walks and a fascinating herb garden. It’s hard to imagine a garden today being planted on such an extravagant scale.
Benmore Botanic Garden
Near Dunoon, Cowal Peninsula.
Benmore garden. Pic credit: Elliott Simpson.
Benmore is set on the side of a mountain and is home to 120 acres of plants. The world-famous collection of plants come from regions as far apart as the Orient and the Himalaya to North and South America. There is also an impressive avenue of giant redwoods, established in 1863, and stand more than 50m tall.
Inverewe gardens
Poolewe, Wester Ross
Inverewe gardens. Pic credit: Wojsl.
An amazingly lush, sub-tropical-style gardens is found on a peninsula at the edge of Loch Ewe in Wester Ross. of Scotland’s most popular botanical attractions. It is surrounded by a 2,000-acre estate that is home to many species of mammals and birds.
The garden was created from bare rock and a few scrub willows and today offers a place full of colourful, exotic plants from around the world. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful gardens in Scotland.
The drive through fabulous landscape form Inverness to Inverewe will only add to the experience.
Haddo House Gardens
Near Pitmedden and Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
Haddo House gardens. Pic credit: Richard Slessor.
The gardens at Haddo have recently been restored to their original Victorian glory. The geometric beds are planted in a modern interpretation of Victorian formal bedding schemes. You have the chance to meet the gardeners and learn about the gardening project on two summer dates: Tuesday July 26, 2016, 11am to 4pm, and also Sunday August 14, at the same time.
A fabulous avenue of lime trees leads to adjacent Haddo Country Park with its lakes, monuments, walks and wildlife.
Kailzie Gardens
Near Peebles, Borders Region
The laburnum arch. Pic credit: Elliott Simpson.
A beautiful and tranquil gardens is found at kale, near Peebles, in the Borders. The gardens are very colourful and highlights include the laburnum arch and the greenhouse, which is filled in the spring with the heavy scent of an old Wisteria.
All photos are courtesy of the Creative Commons licence.