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Total of 13 openings.
Cambo Gardens

Cambo Gardens

Kingsbarns KY16 8QD
Trustees of Cambo Heritage Trust
Open year round. Admission details can be found on the garden's website. (2024)
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T:01333 451040 hello@cambogardens.org.uk
Best known for snowdrops (mail order February), but exciting throughout the year, this Victorian walled garden features constantly evolving, magnificent herbaceous borders featuring rare and unusual plants, many of which are propagated for sale at Cambo. The garden is renowned too for its tulips and a stunning rose collection. Outside the main garden an inspiring Winter Garden and North American Prairie continue to be developed. Woodland walks to the sea.
National Plant Collection: Galanthus
Champion Trees: Bundle Beech

Directions: A917 between Crail and St Andrews.

Admission: details can be found on the garden's website
Charities: Donation to SGS Beneficiaries
Glenwhan Gardens & Arboretum

Glenwhan Gardens & Arboretum

Dunragit, by Stranraer DG9 8PH
Tessa and Ian Knott Sinclair
Open daily, 2pm - 5pm (2024)
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T:07787 990702
Described as one of the most beautiful gardens in Scotland, Glenwhan Gardens is situated at 300 feet and overlooks Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway, with clear views to the Isle of Man. Forty-five years ago there was wild moorland, but now, following considerable dedication and vision, you can see glorious collections of plants from around the world. There is colour in all seasons and the winding paths, well-placed seats and varied sculptures, set around small lochans, add to the tranquil atmosphere. There is a 17-acre moorland wildflower walk, the chance to see red squirrels and well-marked garden and tree trails. Glenwhan has now been added to the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes, a record of nationally important gardens and designed landscapes and a major resource for enhancing appreciation and understanding of these sites, as well as promoting education and stimulating further research. Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said: 'Glenwhan Gardens is an excellent addition to, the inventory.'

Directions: Seven miles east of Stranraer, one mile off the A75 at Dunragit (follow brown VisitScotland and yellow SGS arrows).

Admission: details can be found on the garden's website
Charities: Donation to SGS Beneficiaries
Abriachan Garden Nursery

Abriachan Garden Nursery

Loch Ness Side IV3 8LA
Mr and Mrs Davidson
1 February - 30 November, 9am - 5pm (2024)
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T:01463 861232 info@lochnessgarden.com
This is an outstanding garden with over four acres of exciting plantings with winding paths through native woodlands. Seasonal highlights include snowdrops, hellebores, primulas, meconopsis, hardy geraniums and colour-themed summer beds. Views over Loch Ness.

Directions: On the A82 Inverness/Drumnadrochit road, about eight miles south of Inverness.

Admission: £4.00, children free
Charities: Highland Hospice 60%
Braco Castle

Braco Castle

Braco FK15 9LA
Mr and Mrs M van Ballegooijen
1 February - 31 October 10am - 5pm. February to early March for Snowdrops and Winter Walks. Admission £5.00, children free. No dogs please (2024)
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T:01786 880437
A 19th-century landscaped garden with a plethora of wonderful and interesting trees, shrubs, bulbs and plants. An old garden for all seasons that has been extensively expanded over the last 35 years. The partly walled garden is approached on a rhododendron and tree-lined path featuring an ornamental pond. Spectacular spring bulbs, exuberant shrub and herbaceous borders and many ornamental trees are all enhanced by the spectacular views across the park to the Ochils. From snowdrops through to vibrant autumn colour, this garden is a gem. Look out for the embothrium in June, hoheria in August, eucryphia in September and an interesting collection of rhododendrons and azaleas with long flowering season.

Directions: Drive for one-and-a-half-miles from the gates at the north end of Braco Village, just west of the bridge on the A822. Parking at the castle is welcome.

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: The Woodland Trust Scotland 60%
Barholm Castle

Barholm Castle

Gatehouse of Fleet DG7 2EZ
Drs John and Janet Brennan
By arrangement (2024)
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T:01557 840327 barholmcastle@gmail.com
Barholm Castle, a 16th-century tower, was restored from a ruin in 2006. The gardens surrounding the tower have been mostly developed from scratch and are now mature. There is a recently extended walled garden, with a gate designed by the artist blacksmith Adam Booth; a courtyard garden; a wooded ravine with huge hybrid rhododendrons from Benmore; a pond and a large fernery with over 100 varieties of fern, including very large tree ferns; a large Victorian-style greenhouse filled with succulents and tender perennials; and a large open garden with island beds of shrubs and perennials and a pond. Directly around the castle are rockeries and shrub borders. Views over Wigtown Bay are magnificent. The garden is planted for year-round colour, from February, when the castle ravine is a river of snowdrops, to October, when autumn colour is splendid.

Directions: Off the A75 at the Cairn Holy turn off, fork right three times up a steep narrow road for half-a-mile. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Home-Start Wigtownshire 60%
Laundry Cottage

Laundry Cottage

Culdrain, Gartly, Huntly AB54 4PY
Judith McPhun
By arrangement (2024)
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T:01466 720768 judithmcphun@icloud.com
An informal cottage-style garden of about one and a half acres by the River Bogie. Two contrasting steep slopes make up the wilder parts. The more intensively gardened area around the cottage includes a wide variety of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees, an orchard area and fruit and vegetable plots, making a garden of year-round interest.

Directions: Four miles south of Huntly on the A97.

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust 60%
Craichlaw

Craichlaw

Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart DG8 0DQ
Mr and Mrs Andrew Gladstone
By arrangement (2024)
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T:01671 830208 craichlaw@aol.com
Formal garden with herbaceous borders around the house. Set in extensive grounds with lawns, lochs and woodland. A path around the main loch leads to a water garden returning past a recently planted arboretum in the old walled garden. The best times to visit the garden are early February for snowdrops, May to mid-June for the water garden and rhododendrons, and mid-June to August for herbaceous borders.

Directions: Take the B733 for Kirkcowan, off the A75 at the Halfway House eight miles west of Newton Stewart and Craichlaw House is the first turning on the right. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: All proceeds to SGS Beneficiaries
Kilbryde Castle

Kilbryde Castle

Dunblane FK15 9NF
Sir James and Lady Campbell
By arrangement between 1 February - 30 September (2024)
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T:01786 824897 carolaandjames@googlemail.com
Kilbryde Castle gardens cover some 12 acres and are situated above the Ardoch Burn and below the castle. The gardens are split into three parts: informal, woodland and wild. Natural planting (azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias) is found in the woodland garden. There are glorious snowdrops, spring bulbs, and autumn colour provided by clematis and acers.

Directions: Three miles from Dunblane and Doune, off the A820 between Dunblane and Doune. On Scotland’s Gardens Scheme open days the garden is signposted from the A820. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Leighton Library Trust 60%
Kings Grange House

Kings Grange House

Castle Douglas DG7 3EU
Christine and Peter Hickman
By arrangement between 1 February - 31 August (2024)
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T:07787 535889
An extensive garden surrounded by mature trees and shrubberies, with views to the south west over the surrounding countryside. Originally Victorian, the garden is being restored by the present owners with a colourful variety of herbaceous mixed borders, beds and rockeries. There are snowdrops in February and banks of daffodils and a carpet of white narcissus in the lawns and around the pergola in springtime.

Directions: Take the B794 north off the A75, two miles east of Castle Douglas. Kings Grange House is approximately one mile on the left. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Marie Curie 30% & RNLI 30%
Brooklands

Brooklands

Crocketford DG2 8QH
Mr and Mrs Robert Herries
By arrangement between 1 February - 29 February & 1 May - 30 September (2024)
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T:Gardener, Matthew Grieve: 07765 491902
Large old walled garden with a wide selection of plants, including some interesting shrubs and climbers and a kitchen garden. Mature woodland with many established rhododendrons and azaleas, and carpeted with snowdrops in February.

Directions: Turn off the A712 Crocketford to New Galloway Road one mile outside Crocketford at the Gothic gatehouse (on the right travelling north).

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: All proceeds to SGS Beneficiaries
Barhill

Barhill

Borgue, Kirkcudbright DG6 4UE
Guy and Jenny Houlsby
By arrangement between 1 February - 19 May (2024)
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T:07743 504981 jenny.houlsby@gmail.com
The garden was laid out around 1900, but had been left untouched for many years. Restoration is a work in progress with many areas still in their natural state. The garden has a lake, woodland and planted areas, including a bog garden, rockery, heather hill, herbaceous and shrub borders. There are extensive areas of snowdrops early in the year; these have been spreading and hybridising for about 100 years. The snowdrops are followed by displays of daffodils, primroses and bluebells. The garden has a healthy wildlife population and attractive views of the Isles of Fleet.

Directions: From the south take the coast road from Borgue. About 500m after “Coo Palace” the road dips into woods. The entrance is on the left 50m after some prominent white iron gates. From the north follow signs towards Carrick. Approaching the coast, with Knockbrex House ahead, stay left at the Y junction, pass Knockbrex and the entrance is next on the right after 200m. Parking is at the house.

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Loch Arthur 60%
Gargunnock House Garden

Gargunnock House Garden

Gargunnnock FK8 3AZ
The Gargunnock Trustees
By arrangement between 1 February - 30 September (2024)
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T:Garden contact: William Campbell 01786 842538 william.campbellwj@btinternet.com
Large mature garden five miles from Stirling, with a walled garden, well-established house garden, woodland walks with species and hybrid rhododendrons, massed plantings of azaleas and wonderful specimen trees. Snowdrops in February/March are followed by over 40 varieties of daffodils and the glorious displays of azaleas and rhododendrons in May. The three-acre walled garden contains perennial borders, cut-flower beds, greenhouses, fruit orchard and newly planted arboretum of specimen trees. The Walled Garden is now used by the charity Green Routes to give gardening education to adults with learning difficulties.

Directions: Five miles west of Stirling on the A811. Car parking is at the entrance by the lodge.

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Rhododendron Species Conservation Group 60%
Duntreath Castle

Duntreath Castle

Blanefield G63 9AJ
Sir Archibald and Lady Edmonstone
By arrangement between 1 February - 30 September (2024)
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T:01360 770215 juliet@edmonstone.com
Extensive gardens with mature and new plantings. Ornamental landscaped lake and bog garden. Sweeping lawns below formal fountain and rose parterre with an herbaceous border leading up to an attractive waterfall garden. Swathes of yellow daffodils and other colourful spring bulbs together with rhododendrons and many other ornamental shrubs surround the formal lawns. There is also a woodland walk. The garden has horticultural interest throughout the year and enjoys superb autumn colours.

Directions: A81 north of Glasgow between Blanefield and Killearn. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: All proceeds to SGS Beneficiaries