Description:
Edzell Castle, by kind permission of HES, and a selection of private gardens including:
Edzell Castle
Angus DD9 7UE (Historic Environment Scotland): Historic home of the Lindsay Family with gardens dating back to 1604 featuring fine summer colour, tower house and summer house in the grounds. The red sandstone castle walls, set amid pleasant green parkland, make an attractive setting.
12 Union Street
Edzell DD9 7TD (Christy Bing): Walled garden with roses and ancient apple trees.
North Lodge
36 Church Street, Edzell DD9 7TQ (Robin & Paul McIntosh): North Lodge was designed by James Salmon in the Arts & Crafts style and built as a summer home in 1906. The current garden is predominantly a semi-evergreen woodland garden, full of mature trees and shrubs, a good backdrop for climbers and herbaceous perennials. With numerous flowering azaleas, rhododendrons and spring bulbs, the garden also has a Japanese element to it. Pots of acers and bamboo thrive within the protected walled environment, ferns share a shady area, and a still pond reflects both the sky and plants around it. Our current focus is on increasing the wildlife elements; the pond is loved by birds and a bed of plants specifically chosen for pollinators has proved very successful.
Westwater House
Edzell DD9 7TZ (Charles and Rosie Elphinstone): Formerly home to the Dalhousie Estates factor, dating from the mid-19th century, the gardens had been neglected for many years when the current owners acquired the property in 1987. Since then, the walled garden has been reconfigured, ponds created, hedges planted, lawns relaid and dykes built. In spring the policies are carpeted with snowdrops, aconites, scilla, bluebells and daffodils, followed by flowering azaleas, rhododendrons and magnolia in a woodland setting. Fruit trees blossom in the orchard. As summer progresses waterlilies flourish in the ponds, abundant old-fashioned roses bloom and the herbaceous beds in the walled garden put on a show.
Directions: Take A90 to B966 signposted to Edzell. Continue through the town to the end roundabout and take the first exit (left) to Lethnot Road. North Lodge is on the corner of Lethnot Road and Church Street. Plan your journey by public transport using Traveline Scotland.
Other details: Teas at Church Hall on the Muir DD9 7TG (parking available).Plant sale and tickets at The Cottage. You are welcome to buy tickets in advance from participating venues or drop in on the day. Historic Environment Scotland is opening Edzell Castle for the day (last admission is 3.45pm) as part of the open day.
