Best Gardens in Dumfries and Galloway
These top-rated gardens in Dumfries and Galloway really are the best of the bunch: from ornamental country house gardens to reclaimed clifftop moorlands, they could well be considered to be among the finest in the whole United Kingdom.
Glenwhan Gardens, overlooking Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway, benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, as does Logan Botanic Garden, a regional offshoot of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, which has often been called Scotland’s most exotic garden.
Close to Castle Douglas, the Threave Garden Estate is run by the National Trust for Scotland, and its walled gardens, developed by a renowned gardening school, are set in a 1,500-acre estate with free entry to an adjoining nature reserve. Further east, the Drumlanrig Castle garden features a woodland garden and restored Victorian greenhouses.
Are you itching to start exploring? Here’s our list of the best gardens in Dumfries and Galloway:
Threave Garden Estate
Threave is a 64-acre garden set around a Victorian mansion with views over the Galloway Hills. It’s the home of the National Trust’s renowned School of Heritage Gardening, and generations of students have created a series of outdoor ‘rooms’ with different layouts and planting schemes, including a rose garden, a rockery and a walled garden. Depending on the season, on a visit here you can see numerous types of daffodils, a heather garden, and a wide variety of trees. The adjoining 1500-acre estate is home to a nature reserve where wildlife fans can look out for otters, migratory geese, ospreys and peregrine falcons.
Nearby Castle Douglas is a popular foodie destination – check out our list of the best restaurants in Dumfries and Galloway.
Logan Botanic Garden
Warmed by the Gulf Stream and home to colourful tropical plants and half-hardy perennials from Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Logan has often been called Scotland’s most exotic garden. Dating to the 19th century, it became a regional Garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1969. On a visit here you’ll be able to wander through palm trees, eucalyptus groves, and a walled garden with a lily pond that shelters more exotic species, as well as fragile plants from South Africa in the Logan Conservatory.
Find a campsite near these gardens in Dumfries and Galloway, or narrow your search to outdoor accommodation in the Rhins of Galloway.
Glenwhan Gardens
Developed over the last 40 years and focused around two lochans, Glenwhan was once just a wild area of moorland. The warming influence of the Gulf Stream has allowed the planting of numerous species, and today it’s home to colourful displays throughout the seasons. Look out for everything from bluebells and snowdrops in spring to rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, and lilies, as well as autumn colours (and red squirrels) along a dedicated tree trail. Its meandering paths are dotted with sculptures, there’s an adjoining, 17-acre moorland wildflower walk, and the whole site has great views over the Mull of Galloway to the Isle of Man.
Do you like a good hike? Here’s our guide to the best places to walk in Dumfries and Galloway.
Drumlanrig Castle
The formal gardens around this handsome 17th-century castle are influenced by Victorian designs and cover 40 acres of diverse plantings, from spring bulbs to herbaceous borders and lots of bright rhododendrons. A series of parterres includes a rose garden and the Long Wall Border – a stone balustrade covered with tender climbing plants – and there’s also a woodland garden and restored Victorian greenhouses. Four Victorian pavilions made of larch and hazel include the Victorian Summerhouse, covered with honeysuckle in season, and the Heather House, with views of the Marr Burn waterfall.
Want to find more things to do? Check out our list of the best places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway.
Moving on? Whether you’re heading to Highlands, the islands or are sticking to southern Scotland, our Ultimate Scottish Camping Guide is packed with bright ideas.