Scottish Rhododendron Festival: where to see rhodies in April and May?

Bolfracks

Special three acre garden with wonderful views overlooking the Tay Valley. Burn garden with rhododendrons, azaleas, primulas and meconopsis in a woodland garden setting. Walled garden with shrubs, herbaceous borders and rose rooms with old fashioned roses. There is also a beautiful rose and clematis walk. Peony beds are under planted with tulips and Japanese anemone. The garden has a great selection of bulbs in spring and good autumn colour.

1 April - 31 October, 10am - 6pm
Admission £4.50, children free.

Gargunnock House Garden

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. Over 40 varieties of daffodils in bloom in April and the glorious display 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.

14 March - 28 September (not Saturdays & Sundays)
11am - 3:30pm
Admission £4.00, children free.

Kilarden

Sheltered hilly ten acre woodland part of a 20 acre property with a notable collection of species and hybrid rhododendrons gathered over a period of 50 years by the late Neil and Joyce Rutherford as seen on the Beechgrove Garden. The collection has been augmented in the last 18 years by the current owner. Elsewhere during this time hurricane and severe storm damaged broad leaved trees and mature specimens of conifers have been cleared as have commercial conifers and Rhododendron ponticum. Fruit trees and bushes have been established, of which apples and blueberries are particularly successful, despite a far from favourable north facing shady site.

Sunday 15 April, 2pm - 5pm
Admission £3.00, children free.

Braco Castle

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 26 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. They have an interesting collection of rhododendrons and azaleas with long flowering season.

28 January - 31 October, 10am - 5pm 
Admission £4.00, children free.

Brechin Castle

The uniquely curving walls of the garden at Brechin Castle are just the first of many delightful surprises in store. The luxurious blend of ancient and modern plantings is the second. Find charm and splendour in the wide gravelled walks, secluded small paths and corners. May sees the rhododendrons and azaleas hit the peak of their flowering to wonderful effect, with complementary underplanting and a framework of great and beautiful trees set the collection in the landscape. This is a lovely garden at any time of year and a knockout in the spring.

Sunday 6 May, 2pm - 5pm 
Admission £5.00, children free.

Crinan Hotel Garden

Small rock garden with azaleas and rhododendrons created in a steep hillside over a century ago with steps leading to a sheltered, secluded garden with sloping lawns, herbaceous beds and spectacular views of the canal and Crinan Loch.

1 May - 31 August, Dawn - Dusk
Admission by donation

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Rhododendron at Crinan Hotel Gardens ©Liam Anderstrem

Dalswinton House

Late 18th century house sits on top of a hill surrounded by herbaceous beds and well established shrubs, including rhododendrons and azaleas overlooking the loch. Attractive walks through woods and around the loch. It was here that the first steamboat in Britain made its maiden voyage in 1788 and there is a life-size model beside the water to commemorate this. Over the past years, there has been much clearing and development work around the loch, which has opened up the views considerably.

Sunday 13 May, 2pm - 5pm 
Admission £5.00, children free.

Logan House Gardens

The Queen Anne house is surrounded by sweeping lawns and a truly spectacular woodland garden.

Rare and exotic plants together with champion trees and fine species of rhododendrons provide an excellent habitat for an interesting variety of wildlife.

Sunday 6 May, 2pm - 4:30pm 
Admission £4.00, children free.

Oakbank

This unusual and delightful garden will appeal to adults and children alike with lots for each to explore, including a secret garden.

It extends to some three acres of hillside with a series of paths winding among a varied collection of trees, shrubs, bulbs and wild flowers.

There are several small ponds, many wonderful wood carvings, an active population of red squirrels and a viewpoint overlooking Loch Fyne to the Isle of Arran.

1 May - 31 August, 10:30am - 6pm
Admission £4.00, children free.

Strachur House Flower and Woodland Gardens

Directly behind Strachur House the flower garden is sheltered by magnificent beeches, limes, ancient yews and Japanese maples. There are herbaceous borders, a burnside rhododendron and azalea walk and a rockery. Old fashioned and species roses, lilies, tulips, spring bulbs and Himalayan poppies make a varied display in this informal haven of beauty and tranquillity. The garden gives onto Strachur Park, laid out by General Campbell in 1782, which offers spectacular walks through natural woodland with two hundred year old trees, rare shrubs and a lochan rich in native wildlife.

Saturday/Sunday, 19/20 May, 1pm - 5pm 
Admission £4.00, children free.