Gardens Tours in Scotland
Scotland has a different geological structure from England. North of the Southern Upland Fault, Scotland was once part of a separate tectonic plate to England. Scotland's climate is also different: the growing season is approximately a month shorter with West Scotland wetter than England and East Scotland drier than all but the east of England. Scotland also has separate design tradition. This is more evident in architecture than in garden design but the presence of Scots baronial buildings and local constructions materials and techniques gives Scots gardens a distinctive character and, in good weather, a brilliant clarity of form and colour which sets them apart from other UK gardens.
Scotland's Gardens Scheme facilitates the opening of mostly private gardens, normally inaccessible, to the public as a means of raising money for a selection of charities. The annual handbook "Gardens of Scotland", provides information on the 400 or so gardens that open for the Scheme.
Many garden tour companies operate in Britain with the main groups of operators being based in the UK and the USA. The UK operators tend to be lower priced but do not organize travel to Britain and are likely to use larger vehicles. Independent travelers can visit many gardens, but by no means all, using public transport. Car hire is also easy. One of the difficulties for the independent traveler is that many gardens are open only on a few days per week and only in the afternoon. This makes it difficult to visit as many gardens in a day as might appear possible from their geographical proximity.
Escorted Garden Tours in Scotland
nights
Galloway - Arts & Gardens of Galloway
This tour includes visits to two artists gardens - Ian Hamilton Finlay's garden at Little Sparta and Edward Atkinson Hornel's garden at Broughton House. Other visits include Drumlanrig Castle, Threave, Glenwhan and Logan Botanic Garden.
nights
Gardens of the Far North, 5th May, 16th June, 28th July and 8th September 2012
Visit enchanting castles and gardens in this unspoilt part of the world: Castle of Mey, Dunrobin Castle, Inverewe and Cawdor Castle of Macbeth fame (pictured left - copyright Cawdor Castle).
ADDERLEY TRAVEL +44 (0) 1953 606 706
Small group garden toursAdderley Travel Limited specialise in quality, small-group (max. 12 people) garden tours throughout Britain, especially for overseas visitors to the United Kingdom.
"...I would recommend this to anyone who didn't want a big travel tour experience, loves food, wants to see the English county through lanes and paddocks, doesn't mind a laugh, and wants to be looked after..." Rosemary, Gloucester NSW 2010
Email us at info@adderleytravel.com or visit www.adderleytravel.com to see our tours.
The Magic of Scotland, Outer Hebrides and Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 14 - 27 August 2011
Discover the Island of Mull, Iona, Skye, Harris and Lewis with Marjorie Mason, noted horticulturist, of Mason House Gardens, Uxbridge,,Ontario, Canada.– Gardeners World Tours invites gardeners, golfers, history buffs, dancers, and music lovers to experience the rugged Scottish Highlands and Islands, Lochs, Castles and follow the whisky trail from Inverness.Join our Canadian group for truly Scottish hospitality. Tour cost per person, double occupancy CAD$3989.00. Toronto Glasgow group non-stop charter flight departure 13 Aug at reasonable rate. Detailed itinerary please visit our website www.gardenersworldtours.com