Gardens > Scotland > Fife > Arnot Tower Gardens

Arnot Tower Gardens

The Tower was built in the fifteenth century and has been a ruin for 3 centuries. The Tower forms a feature in a renewed garden with a fountain pool, a canal and steps leading to a terrace in front of the mansion house.

Photograph © Arnot Tower Gardens

Photograph © Arnot Tower Gardens

Photograph © Arnot Tower Gardens

Photograph © Arnot Tower Gardens

Photograph © Arnot Tower Gardens

Photograph © Arnot Tower Gardens

History

Ten acres of policy woodlands and rhododendrons planted around Victorian house in 1870s. From 1960s to 1997: decades of neglect. Restoration/recreation of the gardens started soon after the Grays bought the house and gardens in 1997 with the building of the Italianate terrace to take advantage of the views west over Loch Leven.
By 2003, the water gardens were built, and the hornbeam hedges planted (already 6' high in 2008). The games lawn, long herbaceous borders and the green walk soon followed, along with the creation of a scented garden in the courtyard of the ruined medieval castle.
2008 saw work start on the kitchen garden to the north of the house.

Plants of note

Collection of un-named 120 year old tree rhododendrons; bluebell walks. Late summer borders with unusual annuals. Ornamental kitchen garden with vegetables, fruit and flowers for cutting.