Drummond Castle Gardens

An old castle with a fine nineteenth century garden. The multiplex sundial, carved by Charles I's master mason, survives from the 1630s. It was made at a time of great interest in astronomy and when sundials were the only accurate way of telling the time. Drummond castle is set on a ridge. Terraces step down the hill to the south and a large parterre takes the form of Scotland's flag, the St Andrew's cross, centred on the old sundial. The design was carried out by Lewis Kennedy, though the terracing may have been influenced by Charles Barry. Today, the planting is simpler but the garden retains the atmosphere of the Country Life black and white photographs of British gardens. There are no ladies in flowing white dresses, except in a painting of Queen Victoria's 1842 visit, but the peacocks continue to give an aristocratic air to the scenery.