DETAILS
Day 1, Tuesday, June 25: ARRIVAL
Tour members arrange their own transportation to Edinburgh and to the Radisson Blu Hotel Edinburgh City Centre, where a reservation has been made for them.
We will gather for a welcome dinner this evening (included in tour price).
Day 2, Wednesday, June 26: SHEPHERD HOUSE, TYNINGHAME HOUSE
Our first garden is the cozy 17th-century Shepherd House, which sits in the rural village of Inveresk surrounded by a garden for all seasons. Owners Charles and Ann Fraser have lived here for decades and designed the garden themselves. The show starts in May with bulbs and other spring-flowering shrubs and perennials. Roses and perennials are next: Borders and climbing plants produce a riot of colors during the summer months. The formal pond with fountain and statue gives a nice contrast with the abundance of flowers. Walls protect this garden against winds and frost, so they are able to grow a surprising number of less-hardy plants than you might expect here.
At midday we’ll stop in the seaside village of Dunbar, the birthplace of naturalist John Muir, for some free time and lunch on our own.
In the afternoon, we’ll make our way to the 17th-century Scottish baronial manor, Tyninghame House to take in the extensive walled gardens. We’ll see a parterre, large herbaceous borders, a formal rose garden, a wild garden, a Victorian-era glasshouse and more.
Day 3, Thursday, June 27: CAROLSIDE GARDENS, FLOORS CASTLE
We’ll start our day with a guided tour of Carolside Gardens’ walled garden. Here you’ll find one of the best rose collections in the United Kingdom, with hundreds of different bourbon roses, as well as a beautiful romantic perennial border. All this is sequestered behind walls that protect the garden from wind and harsh temperatures (and coincidentally, block the view from the 18th-century house…a unique Scottish feature).
At midday we’ll travel to Floors Castle, the largest inhabited structure in the United Kingdom. Again there’s no garden to be seen from the castle, but as soon as we pass the gate of the walled garden, we’ll be surrounded by numerous perennial borders with different color schemes and an extensive kitchen garden. In the French formal Millennium garden, you can see the initials of the Lord and Lady grown into a boxwood hedge, surrounded with espaliered fruit trees. The large property also includes a charming woodland walk and a path along the River Tweed. While here, we’ll start with lunch together, then have plenty of time to explore.
Day 4, Friday, June 28: JUPITER ARTLAND, SCOTTISH EVENING
Today we’ll visit Jupiter Artland, an amazing garden at Bonnington House dedicated to contemporary art. This sculpture park and art gallery established by collectors Robert and Nicky Wilson features sculptures spread throughout 100 acres of woodlands, meadows, and gardens, creating an immersive and dynamic experience. Artists from around the world have contributed to the collection, resulting in a wide range of artistic styles and mediums. The Wilsons worked closely with landscape architects and designers to shape the land, create paths, and incorporate water features that enhance the experience and encourage visitors to explore the grounds. We’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this unique landscape, and will share a lunch here as well.
At the end of the day we’ll have a bit of free time before participating in an evening of traditional Scottish entertainment.
Day 5, Saturday, June 29: BROADWOODSIDE, NORTH BERWICK, BASS ROCK
Today we’ll visit Broadwoodside, a 17th-century estate that had fallen into neglect when the current owners purchased it just over 20 years ago. Since then, using the footprint of the original farm as the basis, they’ve developed one of the best contemporary gardens of the United Kingdom. Innovative plant combinations highlight foliage and form and whimsical elements intermingle with more traditional hedges and structures to create a must-visit Scottish destination.
We’ll stop for lunch and some free time in North Berwick, a charming harbor town with scenic views.
In the afternoon, we’ll board a boat for a tour around 107-meter-tall Bass Rock. We’ll hope to see masses of sea birds, such as gannets, guillemots, auks, puffins and gulls, and other North Sea wildlife.
Day 6, Sunday, June 30: PORTMORE GARDENS, STOBSHIEL HOUSE
In this morning’s garden visit, we’ll get a private tour and hear about Portmore Gardens’ original Victorian garden’s renovation and the new gardens’ development. Meticulously-cared-for rose gardens. A potager. Double perennial borders in soothing colors of blue, white, purple and green. Victorian glasshouses and Italianate grotto. All protected within stone walls. Outside the wall you can visit the woodland walk and water garden. Lots to see here!
At noon we’ll stop for a traditional pub lunch before traveling to our next destination.
After lunch we’ll tour the gardens at Stobshiel House, whose original walled garden was established in the 19th century. We’ll see colorful perennials surrounded by boxwood hedges, wander paths that take us through woodland and water gardens, and enjoy formal and naturalistic plantings alike.
Day 7, Monday, July 1: EDINBURGH BOTANIC, EDINBURGH
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is considered to be one of the best botanical gardens in the world. Here you’ll find extensive botanical collections, beautiful herbaceous double borders, an arboretum, amazing glasshouses and much more. Its historic Alpine House and Rock Garden are some of the best in the world. And thanks to cooperation with other botanical gardens across the world, you’ll likely see plants you’ve never encountered before. Take your time exploring the parts of this extensive garden that interest you most, and have lunch at your leisure in the café.
Finally, spend your last afternoon exploring Edinburgh. Tour the famous Edinburgh Castle. Visit the National Museum of Scotland. Peruse the shops on Princes Street. Stop at one of Edinburgh’s many pubs. The possibilities are endless!
Day 8, Tuesday, July 2: DEPARTURE
Our time together has ended, but garden lovers always find fresh inspiration wherever they are. Tour members can choose to return home or carry on the adventure.
