Scotland's gardens will be open to visitors

Every year, property owners share their beautiful spaces with the public to raise funds for charity.

Like everything else, the pandemic has taken a toll in the last two years but a full programme is again planned.

Visitors can enjoy over 500 garden openings across the country this year, ranging from castles and stately homes to small urban oases, for the open garden charity Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.

Liz Stewart, national organiser for the charity, said: “We’re excited to welcome everyone back for another season of gardens open for charity and to share the wonderful variety of gardens we have to offer in Scotland.

“There’s something for everyone, from our West Coast Gulf Stream gardens with their exotic plantings of tree ferns and giant gunnera to stunning rose gardens and the heavenly blue meconopsis and village openings where productive plots bursting with vegetables sit alongside delightful cottage gardens.

"Most of all, we know that our garden openings provide such pleasure to both visitors and garden owners; the chance to connect with other garden lovers, to inspire and be inspired, all while raising much needed funds for charity.”

For the adventurous traveller, the 2022 programme includes 19 gardens located on nine Scottish islands, from Shetland to Gigha, with garden visits a ferry trip across the water.

Castle gardens at Dunvegan and Armadale on Skye, sea views across luscious planting at Leathad Ard on the Isle of Lewis, and giant gunnera on Gigha at Achamore Gardens are just a few of this year’s island highlights.

The Secret Garden is a unique garden at the centre of a biodynamic farm on the Isle of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides and is a haven for wildflowers, birds, bees and butterflies. It has a vegetable garden, tree nursery, physic garden, orchard and poly tunnel.

Visitors looking for urban inspiration will see lots of clever solutions at the Gardens of Lower New Town trail in Edinburgh in June. It includes the remarkable Potted Garden, awarded a Gold Medal at RHS My Chelsea Garden last year, and a quirky succulent garden with plants growing over an armchair and other objects placed at the house entrance.

Among the best for views are Kirkton Manor House in Peebles, which has a delightful, three-acre, informal country garden set in the beautiful Manor Valley. It enjoys spectacular open views and calling curlews from its riverside position.

The spectacular views over Fife to Perthshire and Angus, and the large, flooded quarry full of fish and planted with impressive marginals, make South Flisk garden in Blebocraigs special. Next to the house is the St Andrews Pottery and the owner will be demonstrating his pottery skills for those who need a break from the garden.