Scottish Highlands

Crathes Castle Garden » A sixteenth century castle with a twentieth century Arts and Crafts garden. It might be described as 'The Sissinghurst of Scotland'. The baronial tower, beside which the garden stands, dates from the late 1500s. For centuries the tower stood in lonely isolation, protecting the Burnett family and allowing them fine views of the woods and moors. In the twentieth century a fine garden was made by Sir James Burnett of Leys. It is a walled garden with sculptured topiary and brilliant planting. Read more on Crathes Castle Garden

Leith Hall Garden » A seventeenth century house with a secluded garden. It has extensive herbaceous and shrub planting, and rockery and what must be the longest catmint border in Britain. Read more on Leith Hall Garden

Pitmedden Garden » <p>Pitmedden is an elegant Scottish renaissance garden, all the better for the unexpectedness of its location. The present house was built in 1860. The garden was laid out for Alexander Seton, Lord Pitmedden who had opposed the enforced Catholicism of James II (James VII of Scotland) and retired from public life to concentrate on his estate at Pitmedden. After the 1688 Revolution King William III offered to reinstate him as one of a Lord of Session. The garden at Pitmedden dates from c1675. The present design of the garden, by the National Trust, was loosely inspired by Charles II's garden at Holyrood House in Edinbugh. The argument was that Lord Pitmedden might&nbsp; have known of Le Notre'..... Read more on Pitmedden Garden

Kildrummy Castle Gardens » A twentieth century garden in a ravine, made after 1900. Colonel James Ogstone made a water garden and a rock garden in an old quarry, from which sandstone was dug to build Kildrumy Castle. The bridge is a copy of the Brig o'Balgownie in Old Aberdeen. The Kildrummy Castle Gardens garden is well planted, with advice from Aberdeen University. Read more on Kildrummy Castle Gardens