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Explore the 15 Best Gardens in Scotland
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens
- Princes Street Gardens
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
- Castle Kennedy Gardens
- Threave Garden
- Branklyn Garden
- Inverewe Garden
- Inverness Botanic Gardens
- Falkland Palace and Garden
- Benmore Botanic Garden
- Drummond Castle Gardens
- Logan Botanic Garden
- Dawyck Botanic Garden
- Cluny House Gardens
- Johnston Gardens
Whether it’s spring or summer, visiting different gardens is one of the best things to do when you’re in Scotland. Our country is rich with plant collections, scenic views and peaceful surroundings – perfect for a little escape from your daily life.
Take a closer look at our list of the best gardens in Scotland!
1. Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Website: https://glasgowbotanicgardens.com/
Facebook: GlasgowBotanicGardens
Address: 730 Great Western Rd, Glasgow, G12 0UE, UK
Contact details: +44 141 276 1614
Operating hours: 7 AM – 6 PM daily
Price: Free
Housing over 9,000 different plants, the Glasgow Botanic Gardens is one of the best gardens in Scotland to visit. It has various temperate and tropical glasshouses that look picture-perfect even from a distance.
Apart from that, this large acre of land has stunning landscapes and the gorgeous River Kelvin, which you can freely explore at any season. You can also drop by their cafe and tearoom if you want a quick break.
Pro tip:
For a budget-friendly trip to the gardens, take the hop-on and off open-top bus that drops you directly at the entrance for only £13 per adult.
They have buses that run every 10 minutes so you can easily ride it again to your initial destination after your visit.
2. Princes Street Gardens
Address: Princes St, Edinburgh, EH2 2HG, UK
Contact details: +44 131 529 7921
Operating hours: 7 AM – 9:35 PM daily
Price: Free
Situated at the heart of Edinburgh, Princes Street Gardens is over 37 acres wide, dividing the Old Town and New Town of the capital city.
You’ll have a lovely time visiting this garden, with its scenic surroundings and iconic monuments. But if you visit during winter, the area becomes a ‘Winter Wonderland’ with a market, ice rink and various rides.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for clean and free toilets, there are plenty available, including the ones at the bottom of the hill and behind the theatre.
3. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Website: https://www.rbge.org.uk/
Facebook: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE)
Address: Edinburgh, EH3 5NZ, UK
Contact details: +44 131 248 2909
Operating hours: 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Price:
- Garden – Free
- Glasshouses – £5 per adult
Apart from Princes Street Gardens, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a must-visit in the capital city with its diverse plant collection.
As you explore this 70-acre vast landscape, you’ll appreciate the beauty of nature with its Rock Garden, Scottish Native Plants Collection, clear pond and more.
Pro tip:
You may see some squirrels here! Bring some nuts so you can feed them and get a closer look at these adorable creatures.
4. Castle Kennedy Gardens
Website: https://castlekennedygardens.com/
Facebook: Castle Kennedy Gardens
Address: Castle Kennedy, Stranraer, DG9 8SJ, UK
Contact details: +44 177 670 2024
Operating hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £7
- Concessions (60 years old and older) – £6.50
- Children (3 to 16 years old) – £2.50
- Children (under 3 years old) – Free
- Disabled – Free
- Family (2 adults and 2 children) – £16.50
The Castle Kennedy Gardens is a 75-acre piece of land situated near mini lochs (What Is The Deepest Loch In Scotland) and an ancient tower house. It’s a family-friendly destination with vibrant displays of various flowers like azaleas, rhododendrons and more.
This is one of Scotland’s hidden gems that both kids and your furry friends will love because of the large and tranquil surroundings. Plus, they host various events throughout the year like the Snowdrop Festival, Easter Egg Hunt and Pumpkin Trail.
Pro tip:
There are hardly any benches in the area so it’s best to bring a picnic mat in case you want to sit down for a while. You can also drop by their small cafe if you’re feeling peckish.
5. Threave Garden
Website: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/threave-garden
Facebook: Threave Garden & Nature Reserve NTS
Address: Threave Estate, Castle Douglas, DG7 1RX, UK
Contact details: +44 155 650 2575
Operating hours: 10 AM – 4 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £8.50
- Family – £23
- One Adult Family – £14.50
- Concession – £7.50
Known for its excellent plant centre, the Threave Garden is perfect for all nature lovers who love scenic views. Apart from the garden, you can visit the cafe and Threave House, which has a different price for entry tickets.
While you’re in the area, you should also explore the Threave Nature Reserve which is free entry for everyone.
Pro tip:
If you’re a plant-lover, you should definitely buy a plant on the site. You can ask the gardeners for helpful tips, especially on pruning.
6. Branklyn Garden
Website: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/branklyn-garden
Facebook: Branklyn Garden NTS
Address: 116 Dundee Rd, Perth, PH2 7BB, UK
Contact details: +44 173 862 5535
Operating hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £7.50
- Concession – £6
- Family – £18
- One Adult Family – £12.50
- Young Scot – £1
- NTS Member – Free
Established in 1922, the Branklyn Garden is a 2-acre hillside garden with beautiful alpine flowers and Himalayan blue poppies in spring. In the summer, you can see magnolias and feathery purple Japanese maples in full bloom.
As for autumn, the katsura tree has a vibrant colour and a unique burnt sugar scent. Speaking of great aromas, there are lots of home-baked goods in their tea room, so you make sure you pop over before leaving!
Pro tip:
Avoid going to the end part of the garden if you’re afraid of bees since there is a hive there.
Also, this site is not disability-friendly because of its narrow pathways, which will be difficult for those in a wheelchair.
7. Inverewe Garden
Website: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/inverewe
Facebook: Inverewe Garden & Estate
Address: Poolewe, Achnasheen, IV22 2LG, UK
Contact details: +44 144 571 2950
Operating hours: 9:30 AM – 4 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £15
- Family – £40
- One Adult Family – £30
- Young Scot – £1
- NTS Member – Free
Situated near a loch, Inverewe Garden is close to the Atlantic coast in the North West Highlands.
Both your sense of sight and smell will tingle as you delight in the garden’s bright-coloured flowers and coastal views. You can even spot a few wildlife species in the area like the red squirrel, red deer, otter seal and more.
Pro tip:
Apart from the entry ticket, there is a separate parking fee of £3 per vehicle.
Also, if you’re bringing along your dogs, there are marked areas around the site where they are allowed or not allowed entry.
8. Inverness Botanic Gardens
Website: https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-botanic-gardens/
Facebook: Inverness Botanic Gardens
Address: Bught Ln, Inverness, IV3 5SS, UK
Contact details: +44 146 370 1019
Operating hours: 10 AM – 4 PM daily
Price: Free
For no charge, you can explore the exquisite Inverness Botanic Gardens. This was opened to the public in 1993 by Prince Edward, serving as a little paradise near the city centre.
Apart from the gardens, there are various attractions to visit here, including the Tropical House, Cactus House and more.
Pro tip:
After a trip around the gardens, you can also visit Whin Park, which has kid-friendly rides and boats. It’s just across the gardens, so it’s easy to find!
9. Falkland Palace and Garden
Website: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/falkland-palace
Facebook: Falkland Palace & Garden NTS
Address: East Port, Falkland, Cupar, KY15 7BY, UK
Contact details: +44 133 785 7397
Operating hours: 11 AM – 5 PM
Price:
- Adult – £6.50
- Concession – £5
- NTS Members – Free
The Falkland Palace and Garden is managed by the National Trust for Scotland. It’s just a few miles from Kirkcaldy, featuring an ancient fortress and stunning garden design by Percy Cane.
The grounds also boast the oldest royal tennis court in Britain, an old orchard with a wildflower meadow and a small shop for you to explore.
Pro tip:
If the parking lot is full, drive up to the church then turn left until you reach a demolished factory. There’s free space there for vehicles to park.
10. Benmore Botanic Garden
Website: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/benmore-botanic-garden/
Facebook: Benmore Botanic Garden
Address: 4 Uig, Benmore, Dunoon, PA23 8QU, UK
Contact details: +44 136 970 6261
Operating hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £7.20
- Concession – £6.30
- Children (15 years old and younger) – Free
- RBGE Members – Free
The Benmore Botanic Garden is home to an extensive collection of plants hailing from different parts of the world like China and South America. Notably, it has a vibrant display of rhododendrons and conifers in the middle of a mountain landscape.
Pro tip:
Bring a midge repellent since there are a number of them flying around the garden.
11. Drummond Castle Gardens
Website: https://www.drummondcastlegardens.co.uk/
Facebook: Drummond Castle Gardens
Address: Drummond Castle, Muthill, Crieff, PH7 4HZ, UK
Contact details: +44 176 468 1433
Operating hours: 11 AM – 5 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £10
- Children – £4
- Family – £22
- Wheelchair users – Free
Known as one of the finest gardens in Scotland, the Drummond Castle Gardens is a vast piece of land with well-maintained yew hedges, beech trees and flowers.
This garden is so popular that you might have seen it in various films and TV shows, most recently in the Outlander series.
Pro tip:
There are no toilets in any part of the gardens – you can only find them in the car park.
12. Logan Botanic Garden
Website: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/logan-botanic-garden/
Facebook: Logan Botanic Garden
Address: Port Logan, Stranraer, DG9 9ND, UK
Contact details: +44 177 686 0231
Operating hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £7.20
- Concession – £6.30
- Children (15 years old and younger) – Free
- RBGE Members – Free
If you want to see exotic plants from Central America and South Africa, you can find them at Logan Botanic Garden. Located on the southwestern tip of Scotland, it boasts a spectacular display of half-hardy perennials, thanks to the area’s subtropical climate
Also not to be missed are the palm trees and tree ferns, the walled garden and the logan conservatory.
Pro tip:
The Logan Botanic Garden and Logan House Garden are two different places, even if they are situated beside each other. The latter is privately owned but can still be viewed by the public.
By the way, dogs are not allowed in the garden.
13. Dawyck Botanic Garden
Website: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/dawyck-botanic-garden/
Facebook: Dawyck Botanic Garden
Address: Stobo, Peebles, EH45 9JU, UK
Contact details: +44 172 176 0254
Operating hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £7.20
- Concession – £6.30
- Children (15 years old and younger) – Free
- RBGE Members – Free
The Dawyck Botanic Garden is hidden in the hills of the Scottish Borders, with beautiful seasonal displays of bluebells, snowdrops, azaleas and more. This 65-acre site features various plant collections from Europe, China, Nepal and Japan, among others.
Your escapade to the garden includes seeing different heritage trees and taking a break by the Azalea Terrace.
Pro tip:
Be prepared for an estimated 30-minute wait when ordering food and drinks at their cafe.
14. Cluny House Gardens
Website: https://www.clunyhousegardens.com/
Address: Cluny House Gardens, Aberfeldy, PH15 2JT, UK
Contact details: +44 781 806 5966
Operating hours: 9 AM – 6 PM daily
Price:
- Adult – £5
- Children (ages 5 to 16 years old) – £1
- Children (under 5 years old) – Free
Dubbed as one of the hidden gardens in Scotland, the Cluny House Gardens is found in a remote location that many tend to overlook. However, this spectacular woodland garden has a lovely collection of Himalayan plants and oak trees.
You can even enjoy a panoramic view of the picturesque Strathay Valley!
Pro tip:
The site is not suitable for guests on wheelchairs because of its uneven terrain.
If you’re interested in buying any of the plants on sale, you don’t need to wait for any staff member to arrive. Just leave the exact amount in the box placed on the stall and get the plant you prefer.
15. Johnston Gardens
Facebook: Johnston Gardens
Address: Viewfield Rd, Aberdeen, AB15 7XE, UK
Contact details: +44 122 434 6421
Operating hours: Always open
Price: Free
Although it’s a small site, the Johnston Gardens is a pretty garden with different flowers in bloom like spring bulbs, rhododendrons and heathers, depending on the season.
Initially, this was owned by the Johnston House estate but they gave it to the city in 1936. Now, it’s a stunning garden to visit with ponds, waterfalls and an IG-worthy bridge.
Pro tip:
Try going to the garden early in the morning or late in the afternoon to have the place to yourself since most people tend to go around 8 AM – 9 AM.
