Lazy Days - Garden Lover's Trail
For Garden Lover's the area has some wonderful gardens to explore and all very different from each other.
Kailzie Gardens just outside Peebles is a large Scottish domestic garden on the grand scale which occupies a beautiful position on the River Tweed. Surrounded by magnificent hills, and planted with a wide variety of mature specimen trees. Within the walled garden are greenhouses, herbaceous borders, many unusual species of shrubs, laburnum arches and an enchanting rose garden. There are 15 acres of wild garden featuring woodland and burnside walks.
Dawyck Botanic Garden at Stobo is one of four gardens that comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland and is a regional garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh whose mission is to explore and explain the world of plants. Dawyck has a history of planting that goes back over 300 years and today visitors exploring the garden can admire some of the oldest and tallest trees in Europe that today provide such a magnificent backdrop.
As one of the worlds finest arboreta, this woodland garden has magnificent trees, shrubs and plant trails in a spectacular glen setting which offer interest from snowdrops in February and the beautiful Himalayan blue poppy in summer right through to spectacular Autumn colour untill November.
St Ronan's Wells Visitor Centre in Innerleithen is housed in an historic spa, the exhibitions tell the story of Innerleithen and St Ronan's Wells, describing their connections with the great Scottish writers, Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg. In 2007 the adjoining gardens were featured in the BBC's Beechgrove Garden programme and are continuing to develop and enhance this lovely area which includes sculptures and picnic area.
The natural beauty of the grounds of Traquair House are a perfect complement to the intimate nature of the house. There are no formal gardens here but over 100 acres of woodlands, lawns and the more modern maze now celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2006.
Originally part of the Ettrick Forest, Traquair was originally surrounded by its woodlands. Even today it nestles amongst the most wonderful trees planted mainly in the 1870's and containing huge Douglas Firs, Limes, Ash, Horse Chestnut and Beech. Perhaps, most spectacular of all is the yew tree circle thought to have been part of the old Ettrick Forest and certainly some of the oldest yews in Scotland.
The old walled garden houses the Cottage Restaurant and visitors are invited to take lunch amongst the old apple trees and relax with the gentle sound of the fountain from the garden pond.
At the west side of the house you will discover Cupid's garden tucked away where the theme of the planting is white and grey and is a genuinely romantic spot.
Call us now on 01721 720892 or fill in our reservation form to enquire about availability.
- Dawyck Botanic Garden (0.6Mb)
Scotland's Gardens Scheme
Sunday 12th July: The Old Manse, Drumelzier
Saturday 18th July: Meldonfoot, Lyne
Sunday 26th July: Portmore, Eddleston
Sunday 2nd August: West Linton Village Gardens, West Linton
Sunday 4th October: Dawyck Botanic Gardens, Stobo
Sunday 18th October: Stobo Japanese Water Garden, Home Farm, Stobo
