Blair Castle private gardens will be open for visitors to enjoy the beautiful, landscaped gardens which include a collection of trees dating back to the 18th century. The gardens have undergone a major restoration project, with new beds created including a collection of rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas. This is also the perfect time to see the bluebells on the estate.

Underwood Lodge’s secluded garden is set in surrounding farmland and woodland. The main structure of the garden has been in place for over 20 years with mature trees, shrubs, herbaceous and wall-grown plants. Recent changes to the garden include the development of a woodland, scree garden and installation of a summer house, pergola and glasshouse. Deer and rabbit fencing was added in autumn 2023 to give greater protection. We continue to enhance the planting in all areas.

The garden surrounds the house which dates from the 17th century. Mature beech and lime trees shelter an abundance of rhododendrons and azaleas. Newer plantings of trees and shrubs add year-round colour and interest with underplantings of perennials and bulbs. Tubs of cheery spring flowers add colour around the garden. Raised beds have recently been added for vegetables, fruit trees and herbs. A colourful maple grove, a den for the youngsters and a rockery with alpines and small rhododendrons beside the burn all add interest. Cross the bridge to the main lawn which is framed with trees and shrubs chosen for different seasons. There are various seats in sheltered spots to enjoy, wildflowers and fruit trees.

An earlier opening date than usual highlights the late spring woodland garden, that surrounds the more formal borders and lawns next to the 19th-century house. The woodland features azaleas, species and hybrid rhododendrons as well as acers and magnolias with primulas, meconopsis, smilacina and a wide variety of hostas, ferns and other foliage focused plants especially lining Oscar's ditch. Another woodland feature is the Golden Glade where golden leaved trees, shrubs and under-planting should be at its most potent. The golden philadelphus should be in full flower and the arching sprays of white-stemmed golden bramble (rubus) are particularly graceful. Herbaceous and rose borders nearer the house will have an early summer display of perennial geraniums, alliums, astrantia and many others whilst the species and old roses will be flowering. During June and July visitors can still see the wide selection of David Austin and other roses while herbaceous borders will be at their peak. During September and October you can see the autumn leaf colours of Parrotia, Liquidambar and American oaks with displays of sedums, dahlias and anemones.

The gardens date back to the 1900s, Auchincruive is steeped in horticultural history as the site used to be the West of Scotland Agricultural College. The gardens are going through major redevelopment to bring it back to its former glory, including restoring secret garden, walled garden, herbaceous borders and ponds that are within the gardens. Our main focus of the gardens is to produce vegetables for the Bothy Cafe, we have two large vegetable growing areas, one plot is no dig and the other is dig. We also have an arboretum that contains rare and endangered trees, including Sorbus Arranensis, Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron giganteum and cryptomeria japonica. The gardens also contain fruit, orchid and greenhouses and the grounds has a total of 48 acres that consist of woodlands, cafe and gardens. Our gardens are used therapeutically to help residents overcome addiction and improve their mental well being.

This large woodland garden is carved from a 19th-century whinstone quarry and situated within a 1890s parkland, once known for the quoiting green provided for the village thread mill and ironstone pit workers of that time. Enhancement of the gardens began in 2010 by volunteers, with assistance from Beechgrove in 2012. Features include enchanted woodland walks, a fairy trail, a nature trail, the Vale Burn, views of the Dusk Water, a restored 19th-century cholera pit aka ‘The Deid Man’s Plantin’, a new Celtic tree circle and guided walks. The woodland backdrop is complemented by an understorey of natural planting throughout.

Situated on the edge of the village, the garden of this working dairy farm has clear views towards the Heads of Ayr. Central to the garden is the lawn, around which are a wide range of mixed perennial borders. In spring these are highly colourful with a variety of daffodils. A raised pond complements some of the external walls and border edges, constructed from recycled sandstone. A long hosta border stretches the length of the farmhouse, where it benefits from shade. Mature trees and shrubs help to protect the garden from the prevailing winds. Two greenhouses protect tender plants over winter, from which a large number of cuttings are taken to fill numerous containers around the farmyard.

Most interesting terraced garden in a castellated folly built in 1905 to celebrate the marriage of the 12th Duke of Hamilton’s only child to the Duke of Montrose. Good selection of tender and rare shrubs and herbaceous border. Small woodland area with trees including azara, abutilon, eucryphia, hoheria and nothofagus. 

Whitewin House was built for Baronet Henry Tate of Tate and Lyle. The house stands in one acre of formal Victorian Garden, redesigned over a five year period in the form of an English Manor House Garden which, of course, comes with its challenges, because of its coastal location. The rockeries, beautiful scalloped lawns and the plethora of statuary all complement the use of authentic Victorian bedding plants, trees and shrubs, ideally mirroring the ambience and grandeur of the house interior. In 2022, two water features were added to the garden. Home to celebrated international mezzo-soprano Linda Finnie, Whitewin House is fortunate in having a prime position in Golf Course Road, having been the first house built there, standing majestically overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Ailsa Craig, Arran and the Kintyre Peninsula.Whitewin House was encouraged to apply for Garden of the Year in May 2022, following an invitation by a representative from More4 television.

Whitewin House was built for Baronet Henry Tate of Tate and Lyle. The house stands in one acre of formal Victorian Garden, redesigned over a five year period in the form of an English Manor House Garden which, of course, comes with its challenges, because of its coastal location. The rockeries, beautiful scalloped lawns and the plethora of statuary all complement the use of authentic Victorian bedding plants, trees and shrubs, ideally mirroring the ambience and grandeur of the house interior. In 2022, two water features were added to the garden. Home to celebrated international mezzo-soprano Linda Finnie, Whitewin House is fortunate in having a prime position in Golf Course Road, having been the first house built there, standing majestically overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Ailsa Craig, Arran and the Kintyre Peninsula.Whitewin House was encouraged to apply for Garden of the Year in May 2022, following an invitation by a representative from More4 television.

The 36-acre grounds at Glenapp Castle are secluded and private. Many rare and unusual plants and shrubs can be found, including magnificent specimen rhododendrons. Paths meander round the azalea pond, through established woodland leading to the wonderful walled garden with a 150-foot Victorian glasshouse. Fresh herbs and fruit from the garden are used every day in the castle kitchen. Much of the gardens were designed by Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), the world-famous garden designer, applying the principles of the Arts and Crafts Movement, who worked in collaboration with Edwin Lutyens. A new walk has been created opening up the Glen, where Glenapp’s Champion Trees will be found. 
Champion Trees: Abies cilicica, Cercidiphyllum japonicum and Picea likiangensis

Set within the glorious historic Blair Polices dating back to the 1500s, at the Carriage House, the Borwicks have planted a beautiful new Arboretum. This continues to build on the vision of past generations of Blairs of creating a sanctuary of rare species trees. Over the past three years a collection of over 160 trees and shrubs has transformed a 10-acre field into a peaceful refuge with year-round variety and colour. Mown paths wend their way around providing different vistas and points of interest including the mermaids rescuing a girl carved by a local artist from the stump of a Portuguese Laurel. Look out for the 24-year old Wellingtonia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) grown from seed here at Blair, an avenue of eight different lime trees which earned a Queen's Green Canopy Award, a Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Golden Dawn' and many other rare trees. To sit on one of the benches created from our own wood and enjoy the energies of the Arboretum is a special experience. The Carriage House garden, created from a field over the past 20 years and planted with many varieties of roses and mature shrubs, is also available for a wander. You are welcome to bring a picnic and we welcome garden societies and walking groups.

This garden was created in 1997 from a small field and includes a large pond which was originally a small quarry. It covers approximately one-and-a-half-acres of mature garden and, using hedging and shrubbery the garden is split into garden 'rooms' including woodland, formal borders, laburnum arch, herbaceous borders, rhododendrons and azaleas. Large lawn area and wildlife pond. The garden also features many interesting and unusual artefacts and sculptures.

This maturing and constantly changing six-and-a-half acre garden began in 2006. There is a wide range of plants from trees to alpines, giving colour and variability all year. Next to the road flows the Drumbowie Burn, parallel to which is a woodland border with snowdrops, erythroniums, hellebores, trilliums, rhododendrons and acers. Near the house are a raised bed and large collection of troughs, with an interesting range of alpines. The garden boasts herbaceous beds, ericaceous garden, screes, three alpine glasshouses with award-winning plants, an extensive Streptocarpus collection, polytunnel, pond and arboretum - underplanted with daffodils, camassia, fritillaries and crocus. With a view towards matrimonial harmony, there are two sheds which may be of interest. The garden is only 15 minutes from Dumfries House.

Surrounded by a working farm, this compact, established garden has mature shrubs, wildlife pond, bog garden and stream, borrowing stunning countryside views towards Ayr and Arran. Well-behaved spring borders give way to a riot of summer perennial favourites. Many 'found objects' of agricultural interest. Extensive containers brighten the farmyard with seasonal displays.

In nine years our one-acre plot has been transformed from a barren children’s playground with only mature pine trees and rhododendrons, to a colourful seaside garden. Our exposed coastal situation causes windburn in many supposedly hardy plants, so we have formed a windbreak for the borders with mixed shrubs including griselinia, hawthorn and photinia. Billowing grasses sit alongside perennials including helenium, euphorbia and agapanthus, all interspersed with tulips, lilies and alliums. The coastal theme is accentuated by cordyline, phormium, Fatsia japonica and eucalyptus. We have bark woodland paths, and our garden is a haven for birds, bees and butterflies.

Most interesting terraced garden in a castellated folly built in 1905 to celebrate the marriage of the 12th Duke of Hamilton’s only child to the Duke of Montrose. Good selection of tender and rare shrubs and herbaceous border. Small woodland area with trees including azara, abutilon, eucryphia, hoheria and nothofagus. 

A tiny slice of jungle nestled within a small triangular plot. To the front of the house are two beds planted with nectar-secreting plants and seasonal colour. To the rear, an anonymous door leads to a small patio, home to some bonsai, a collection of potted terrestrial ferns and stone troughs hold tender and hardy succulents. A serpentine path meanders through dense planting of palms, brugmansia, bananas and tree ferns. Of particular note is the use of hardy and tender bromeliads and a collection of aroids such as Arisaemia, Alocasia, Colocasia and Giant Zantedeschia. Flower highlights are provided by lilies (species and cultivars) and later in the season, Cannas, and hardy gingers such as Hedychium and Roscoea. Nestling amongst the foliage is the giant leafed Tetrapanax together with the rare terrestrial fern Lophosoria.

Whitewin House was built for Baronet Henry Tate of Tate and Lyle. The house stands in one acre of formal Victorian Garden, redesigned over a five year period in the form of an English Manor House Garden which, of course, comes with its challenges, because of its coastal location. The rockeries, beautiful scalloped lawns and the plethora of statuary all complement the use of authentic Victorian bedding plants, trees and shrubs, ideally mirroring the ambience and grandeur of the house interior. In 2022, two water features were added to the garden. Home to celebrated international mezzo-soprano Linda Finnie, Whitewin House is fortunate in having a prime position in Golf Course Road, having been the first house built there, standing majestically overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Ailsa Craig, Arran and the Kintyre Peninsula.Whitewin House was encouraged to apply for Garden of the Year in May 2022, following an invitation by a representative from More4 television.