Glamis Castle Garden

Head Gardener's Comment

The Gardens and Grounds at Glamis, like the Castle, have centuries of history behind them and have been added to and altered by generations of the Strathmore family. Walks have been created to take in a mixture of habitats ranging from parkland and policies in the immediate vicinity of the castle to the formal Itlaian Garden.

History

The Italian Garden was laid out by Countess Cecilia, the Queen Mother’s mother, c.1910 to designs by Arthur Castings. Bounded by yew hedges, this garden includes a raised terrace between two small gazebos, from which can be seen fan-shaped parterres of formal beds separated by gravel walks. Other features include pleached alleys of beech, a stone fountain and ornamental gates which commemorate the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday.

The Pinetum, planted by the 13th Earl c.1870, has a variety of exotic trees, many of which are conifers native to North America. Along the northern edge of the Pinetum lies the Water of Dean, which eventually joins the River Tay. This was canalised in the 18th century to improve the drainage from the surrounding farmland. The burn is crossed by the Earl Michael Bridge, originally built in 1890, and reopened by the Queen Mother in 1996 after restoration by the 18th Earl.

Plants of Note

For the plant lover there is an abundance of snowdrops, daffodils, dog's mercury, primrose, dog's tooth violet, crocus, butterbur, rhododendrons, azaleas. Native flowers such as foxgloves, thistles, and teasel have been planted as part of the on-going programme to preserve the natural habitat of the wildlife at Glamis.