Scotland’s Seaside Gardens Offer the Best of Summer Fun
When it comes to a great day out in summer, how do you choose between a beach or an amazing green space filled with flowers and bees? Well you don’t have to because some of the finest gardens in the country are within stone-skimming distance of the sea.
Dotted around Scotland’s six thousand miles of coastline are dozens of remarkable gardens, many of which have taken advantage of dramatic locations and temperate climate to develop exciting plots where an extraordinary array of plants from around the world flourish.
From traditional seaside vibes to exotic species and often views to die-for, these coastal gardens are a breath of fresh air on a sunny day, providing salty breezes and sweet-smelling flowers in abundance.
Here are some of the best seaside gardens around Scotland:
ARBIGLAND HOUSE
From the 18th century mansion house, a long walk, lined by beech trees, stretches from Arbigland House to the beaches of the Solway Firth. The 24 acres of gardens here, which include an Italianate sunken garden, steep terraces and streamside gardens shaded by Giant gunnera, are undergoing restoration but there’s no denying the salty credentials of this historic spot on the Dumfries & Galloway coastline. The Vikings washed up here and the estate itself was the birthplace of John Paul Jones, father of the American navy.
www.arbiglandhouseandgardens.co.uk
CULZEAN CASTLE
From the battlements of Culzean there are spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde towards the jagged peaks of Arran. Beneath the castle lie rock pools and caves just begging to be explored, while the Fountain Court on the leeward side is filled with tender plants that relish the coastal conditions. There are hundreds of acres of woodland paths to be enjoyed, along with a double walled garden full of decorative and edible plants.
ARDENCRAIG GARDENS
Rothesay has a long history as a ‘Doon the Watter’ holiday location and adding to its seaside appeal are the brightly coloured borders of Ardencraig Gardens. It’s here that the gardeners of Argyll & Bute Council continue the Victorian tradition of bedding plants, each year creating glorious displays of beautiful, tender flowers within the walled garden of historic Ardencraig House.
ARDMADDY CASTLE
The Ardmaddy estate spreads out around a horseshoe-shaped bay, 10 miles south of Oban and it has native woodlands, a walled garden full of flowers, produce and climbing plants. Frosts are rare in this sheltered spot and sea thrift grows near to the shore while wild orchids stud the grass.
INVEREWE GARDEN
A rocky peninsula overlooking Loch Ewe in Wester Ross is an unlikely place to find an iconic garden but here you can find Australian tree ferns, giant Chatham Island forget-me-nots, a plethora of South African bulbs and Wollemi Pines, trees once only known from the fossil record. There are few gardens where visitors have the chance to spot not just Red Squirrels and Golden Eagles, but also otters and seals.
CASTLE OF MEY
From its position on the Caithness Coast, the Castle of Mey offers expansive views across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands.
This 16th century turreted dwelling is the most northerly inhabited castle in the UK and for many years it belonged to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who bought it on a whim in 1952 and spent every subsequent August there enjoying the endless summer days in the rose garden which she had created within the old walled garden. Today the gardens have been extensively renovated to provide interest and colour throughout the summer.
DUNROBIN CASTLE
Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and its French renaissance style is reflected in the garden, where topiaried trees give the impression that the estate borders the Loire and not the North sea.
Despite the location, the climate here is surprisingly mild, thanks to the last remnants of the Gulf stream, which flows around the north coast before bringing warmth to the waters off Sutherland, allowing all kinds of plants including Fuchsia ‘Dunrobbin Bedder’ to grow here.
HOUSE OF DUN
The House of Dun is an imposing 18th century mansion, surrounded by formal gardens and woodlands, with trails leading down to the Montrose Basin Nature Reserve, which is one of the most important sites for wading birds and wildfowl. This coastal reserve and the meadows surrounding it, are a magnet for wildlife of all kinds.
CAMBO GARDENS
Cambo is one of Scotland’s most exciting gardens with prairie planting, edible beds, striking design features and a path that meanders through woodland to a stretch of beach, where it meets the Fife Coastal Path. It also has an award-winning cafe and glasshouses filled with flowering plants.
For more information on these and many other glorious gardens, visit www.discoverscottishgardens.org
