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Total of 14 openings.
16 Mulla

16 Mulla

Voe, Shetland ZE2 9XQ
Linda Richardson
Saturday/Sunday, 27/28 April, 10:30am - 4:30pm (2024)
2c4
T:07765 037516 linda@lindarichardson.co.uk
A garden on the Clubb of Mulla, a hillside overlooking Olnafirth with views of the sea and Lower Voe. Started in October 2016, the steep overgrown plot looked like a continuation of the moor at the back of the house. This garden shows what can be achieved in a very windy and exposed situation, battling against the extremes of the Shetland weather. Gardening with wildlife in mind, trees were planted in the spring of 2017, now providing shelter for birds. Six years on, there are herbaceous borders, rockery, a vegetable bed, 3.6 x 2.4 metre greenhouse, mini wildflower meadow strips and a natural water feature which is a long drainage ditch planted up with willows and water-loving plants. Always a work in progress, more trees will be added this year. The owner is an artist-printmaker with an open studio that folk are welcome to look round too.

Directions: Eighteen miles north of Lerwick on the A970 is Voe. Pass the North Isles junction and Tagon Stores on your right. Turn right into Mulla and number 16 is up the hill on your left. Bus no. 21 (Hillswick) and 23 (Toft) stop on the main road at the bottom of Mulla.

Admission: by donation
Charities: Shetland UHI: Shetland Community Wildlife Group 60%
Old Granary Quoy and The Quoy of Houton

Old Granary Quoy and The Quoy of Houton

The Quoy of Houton, Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RD
Caroline Critchlow and Colleen Batey
Sunday 2 June, 10am - 4pm (2024)
2c6
T:01856 811355
Old Granary Quoy The Quoy of Houton, Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RD (Caroline Critchlow): A newly-planted and designed garden, adjacent to The Quoy of Houton. Fabulous views over Scapa Flow, ponds and a water garden. The home of Orkney perennial geraniums and an extensive range of plants suitable for this exposed coastal location. The lantern greenhouse is a new acquisition featuring an indoor fig tree. Caroline Critchlow has designed award winning gardens and is the resident gardening guru on BBC Radio Orkney.
The Quoy of Houton Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RD (Dr Colleen Batey): An unusual historic walled panoramic garden with 60-foot rill which leads the eye to the spectacular coastal views of Scapa Flow. Carefully planted to withstand winds in excess of 60 mph, with floral interest from March to September. Winner of Gardeners' World Britain’s best challenging garden 2017 and listed in the top ten UK coastal gardens. Featured on Beechgrove and in the book Island Gardens.

Directions: From Orphir take the turning to Houton Ferry at the first junction signed Quoy of Houton, turn right by the car park. Park here and walk 10 minutes along the coastal road around the bay to the gardens. Disabled access please ring to arrange as parking is very limited. The gardens are a 10-minute walk from the bus stop.

Admission: £8.00, children free
Charities: FOTNW 60%
Amat

Amat

Amat Lodge, Ardgay IV24 3BS
Jonny and Sara Shaw
Saturday/Sunday, 6/7 July, 2pm - 5pm (2024)
3c6e7
T:07712 266500 sara.amat@aol.co.uk
Over the last few years there have been big changes in the garden and there is now much more interest during the summer months. There is a new mini stumpery and many changes to original borders . The river Carron flows around the edge of the garden and the old Amat Caledonian Forest is close by. Large specimen trees surround the house, plus many new ones planted in the policies in the last few years. There are several herbaceous borders, rhododendrons, trees and shrubs, all set in a large lawn. It is possible to go on a short woodland and river walk and you may see red squirrels which were reintroduced some years ago and are often in and around the garden. 
Champion Trees: Abies Procera, Noble Fir

Directions: Take the road from Ardgay to Croick, nine miles. Turn left at the red phone box and the garden is 500 yards on the left. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Horatio's Garden 30% & Marie Curie 30%
16 Mulla

16 Mulla

Voe, Shetland ZE2 9XQ
Linda Richardson
Saturday/Sunday, 20/21 July, 10:30am - 4:30pm (2024)
2c4
T:07765 037516 linda@lindarichardson.co.uk
A garden on the Clubb of Mulla, a hillside overlooking Olnafirth with views of the sea and Lower Voe. Started in October 2016, the steep overgrown plot looked like a continuation of the moor at the back of the house. This garden shows what can be achieved in a very windy and exposed situation, battling against the extremes of the Shetland weather. Gardening with wildlife in mind, trees were planted in the spring of 2017, now providing shelter for birds. Six years on, there are herbaceous borders, rockery, a vegetable bed, 3.6 x 2.4 metre greenhouse, mini wildflower meadow strips and a natural water feature which is a long drainage ditch planted up with willows and water-loving plants. Always a work in progress, more trees will be added this year. The owner is an artist-printmaker with an open studio that folk are welcome to look round too.

Directions: Eighteen miles north of Lerwick on the A970 is Voe. Pass the North Isles junction and Tagon Stores on your right. Turn right into Mulla and number 16 is up the hill on your left. Bus no. 21 (Hillswick) and 23 (Toft) stop on the main road at the bottom of Mulla.

Admission: by donation
Charities: Shetland UHI: Shetland Community Wildlife Group 60%
42 Astle

42 Astle

Dornoch IV25 3NH
Fay Wilkinson
Saturday/Sunday, 27/28 July, 11am - 4pm (2024)
c
Organic wildlife garden at the edge of boggy moorland. Mature trees and shrubs are mixed with herbaceous perennials, vegetables and flowers for cutting. Changes are continually being made to focus on providing food and homes for pollinating insects.

Directions: A9 from the south: pass the turn off to Dornoch, take the first left after the Tall Pines Restaurant, signposted Astle. After one and a half miles take the left fork, cross the river and no. 42 is the second house on the left. A9 from the north: turn right 100 yards before the Tall Pines Restaurant, then follow the directions above.

Admission: £4.00, children free
Charities: Bumblebee Conservation Trust 60%
Skelbo House

Skelbo House

Skelbo, Dornoch IV25 3QG
Alison Bartlett
Saturday/Sunday, 27/28 July, 11am - 4pm (2024)
c7
SkelboHouseGarden@gmail.com
Extensive woodland garden with spectacular views over Loch Fleet. Mixed herbaceous borders, rose garden and shrubberies surround the house. Lawns slope down to a small lochan and river walkway. Mature trees throughout. Large kitchen garden. 

Directions: from the south, on the A9 take the small turning opposite the Trentham Hotel (just past the Dornoch turn-offs). At the side of Loch Fleet turn left, then at the ruined castle take the second farm road which is fairly rough, and follow round to your right. If coming from the north take the Loch Fleet road signposted to Embo from the A9. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Mary's Meals 60%
Langwell

Langwell

Berriedale KW7 6HD
Welbeck Estates
Sunday 28 July, 12pm - 4pm (2024)
67
T:01593 751278 / 751237 caithness@welbeck.co.uk
A beautiful and spectacular old walled garden with outstanding borders situated in the secluded Langwell Strath. Charming wooded access drive with a chance to see deer. 

Directions: Turn off the A9 at Berriedale Braes, up the private (tarred) drive signposted Private - Langwell House. It is about 1¼ miles from the A9. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: RNLI 60%
Norby

Norby

Burnside, Sandness, Shetland ZE2 9PL
Mrs Gundel Grolimund
1 April - 31 December, dawn - dusk (2024)
4
T:01595 870246 gundel.g5@btinternet.com
A small but perfectly formed garden and a prime example of what can be achieved in a very exposed situation. Blue painted wooden pallets provide internal wind breaks and form a background for shrubs, climbers and herbaceous plants, while willows provide a perfect wildlife habitat. There are treasured plants such as Chionochloa rubra, pieris, Chinese tree peonies, a selection of old-fashioned shrub roses, lilies, hellebores and grasses from New Zealand. There is also a lovely selection of interesting art and textiles in the house.

Directions: Head north on the A970 from Lerwick then west on the A971 at Tingwall. At Sandness, follow the road to Norby, turn right at the Methodist Church, Burnside is at the end of the road. Bus 10 Sandness - Walls. 

Admission: £4.00, children free
Charities: Survival International 60%
The Castle and Gardens of Mey

The Castle and Gardens of Mey

Mey KW14 8XH
The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust
1 May - 30 September, 10:30am - 4pm (closed late July and early August, please check website for specific dates). (2024)
36k
T:01847 851473 enquiries@castleofmey.org.uk
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, bought what was then Barrogill Castle in 1952 before renovating and restoring the z-plan castle and creating the beautiful gardens you see today; renaming it The Castle and Gardens of Mey. This romantic and unique garden is a reminder that, however daunting the weather, it is often possible with a little vision and energy to create and maintain a garden in the most unlikely of locations. The castle now includes an animal centre, gift shop and tearoom serving delicious locally sourced food and drinks, often using produce from the castle’s very own gardens. 

Directions: On the A836 between Thurso and John O’Groats. 

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

Nonavaar

Levenwick, Shetland ZE2 9HX
James B Thomason
1 June - 30 September, 2pm - 5pm (2024)
4
T:01950 422447
This is a delightful country garden, sloping within drystone walls and overlooking magnificent coastal views. It contains ponds, terraces, trees, bushes, varied perennials, annuals, vegetable garden and greenhouse. 

Directions: Head south from Lerwick. Turn left at the Levenwick sign soon after Bigton turnoff. Follow the road to the third house on the left after the Midway stores. Park where there is a Garden Open sign. Bus 6 from Lerwick - Sumburgh. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Cancer Research UK 60%
16 Mulla

16 Mulla

Voe, Shetland ZE2 9XQ
Linda Richardson
By arrangement between 1 April - 30 September (2024)
4
T:07765 037516 linda@lindarichardson.co.uk
A garden on the Clubb of Mulla, a hillside overlooking Olnafirth with views of the sea and Lower Voe. Started in October 2016, the steep overgrown plot looked like a continuation of the moor at the back of the house. This garden shows what can be achieved in a very windy and exposed situation, battling against the extremes of the Shetland weather. Gardening with wildlife in mind, trees were planted in the spring of 2017, now providing shelter for birds. Six years on, there are herbaceous borders, rockery, a vegetable bed, 3.6 x 2.4 metre greenhouse, mini wildflower meadow strips and a natural water feature which is a long drainage ditch planted up with willows and water-loving plants. Always a work in progress, more trees will be added this year. The owner is an artist-printmaker with an open studio that folk are welcome to look round too.

Directions: Eighteen miles north of Lerwick on the A970 is Voe. Pass the North Isles junction and Tagon Stores on your right. Turn right into Mulla and number 16 is up the hill on your left. Bus no. 21 (Hillswick) and 23 (Toft) stop on the main road at the bottom of Mulla.

Admission: by donation
Charities: Shetland UHI: Shetland Community Wildlife Group 60%
Highlands Garden

Highlands Garden

East Voe, Scalloway, Shetland ZE1 0UR
Sarah Kay
By arrangement between 1 May - 31 October (2024)
c4
T:01595 880526/ 07818 845385 info@easterhoull.co.uk
The garden is in two parts. The upper garden is mostly a rockery, with a large selection of plants, shallow pond, seating area, polycrub and greenhouse with fruit and vegetables. The lower garden is on a steep slope with a spectacular sea view over the village of Scalloway. There is a path to lead visitors around and the garden features a large collection of plants, vegetable patch, deep pond and pergola. It was awarded a Shetland Environmental Award in 2014 for its strong theme of recycling. The owner also has an art studio which you are most welcome to visit when you view the garden.

Directions: Follow the A970 main road towards the village of Scalloway. Near the top of the hill heading towards Scalloway take a sharp turn to the left, signposted Easterhoull Chalets. Follow the road to chalets (painted blue with red roofs) and you will see the yellow SGS sign for the garden. Bus 4 from Lerwick/Scalloway. 

Admission: £4.00, children free
Charities: Macmillan Cancer Support 60%
Amat

Amat

Amat Lodge, Ardgay IV24 3BS
Jonny and Sara Shaw
By arrangement between 1 May - 31 May (2024)
6e7
T:07712 266500 sara.amat@aol.co.uk
Over the last few years there have been big changes in the garden and there is now much more interest during the summer months. There is a new mini stumpery and many changes to original borders . The river Carron flows around the edge of the garden and the old Amat Caledonian Forest is close by. Large specimen trees surround the house, plus many new ones planted in the policies in the last few years. There are several herbaceous borders, rhododendrons, trees and shrubs, all set in a large lawn. It is possible to go on a short woodland and river walk and you may see red squirrels which were reintroduced some years ago and are often in and around the garden. 
Champion Trees: Abies Procera, Noble Fir

Directions: Take the road from Ardgay to Croick, nine miles. Turn left at the red phone box and the garden is 500 yards on the left. 

Admission: £5.00, children free
Charities: Horatio's Garden 30% & Marie Curie 30%
Keldaberg

Keldaberg

Cunningsburgh, Shetland ZE2 9HG
Mrs L Johnston
By arrangement between 1 June - 30 September (2024)
6
T:01950 477331/07774539693 linda@cunningsburghhall.com
A ‘secret garden’ divided into four areas. A beach garden of grasses, flowers and driftwood. The main area is a sloping perennial border leading down to a greenhouse and vegetable plot and up to a decked area with containers and exotic plants including agaves, pineapple lilies, cannas and gunneras. The new area has trees, raised vegetable beds, a rockery, retaining walls and an arbour in which to rest. There is a pond with goldfish and aquatic plants and now a polycrub to grow vegetables, fruit trees and a grapevine. 

Directions: On the A970 south of Lerwick is Cunningsburgh, take the Gord junction on the left after passing the village hall. Continue along the road to the second house past the Kenwood sign. 

Admission: £4.00, children free
Charities: RNLI 60%