Opening at Gardyne Castle Supports Historic Guthrie Kirk  Garden

Opening for the first time in four years on Saturday 21 June from 2 - 5pm, the last in the forseeable future, the 20 acre garden at Gardyne Castle, Guthrie has been designed by the present owners over the past 22 years and is still a work in progress, with the development of the wildflower meadows, the creation of a new spring garden and the enlargement of the woodland gardens beside the Denton Burn.

The Castle dates from the 16th century and is one of the most attractive small castles in Angus. After a turbulent history of battles with the neighbouring Guthries, the fortified house now sits in the centre of an enchanting garden. To the east, the walled garden runs down to the Denton Burn. The castle’s unique stone-capped turrets overlook a long, romantic double border with herbaceous planting in front of the fruit trees trained up the wall that faces a mature rose border on the other side of the gravel path.

The castle’s southern front, which was extended in the 17th, 18th and early 20th centuries, is enhanced by a wisteria and overlooks a formal knot garden of box, bay, holly and yew mixed with white roses, peonies and lavender. Beyond is a formal lawn surrounded by yew topiaries and specimen trees, leading to a developing perennial wildflower meadow with a gentle path leading down through an orchard.

To the north, an upper garden created in 2018, centred on a pepper pot doocot, provides an area for quiet contemplation with further yew topiary, an extended lavender border, white planting, a fishpond and the family’s collection of chickens. Beyond the formal gardens the grounds merge into mature woods with romantic walks along the Denton Burn, a range of specimen trees and some lovely naturalistic planting. Things to look out for at this time of year include the long traditional border of old fashioned roses, and the spectacular claret — coloured Martagon Lillies in the woods.

The benefitting charity is Guthrie Heritage SCIO, a charity founded to purchase and support the running of the nearby historic Guthrie Kirk Garden.

For tickets and more information