Scotland's Gardens Scheme is a registered Scottish charity (No. SCO11337) which was founded in 1931 to support the Queen's Nursing Institute, Scotland. Now around 400 gardens open to the public each year. The owners donate entry fees and revenue from teas and plant sales to support the beneficiary charities.
The owner of a garden which is open under the scheme may donate up to 40% of the day's takings to registered charities of their own choice. In 2012 224 different charities, some small local charities and some large well known organisations, will benefit in this way. 60% of the funds raised, net of expenses, will be given to four Scotland's Gardens Beneficiaries :-
West Plean House, Denny Road, by Stirling FK7 8HA. From Junction 9 where M9 and M80 converge take A872 for Denny. In less than 1 mile turn left at house sign immediately after lodge cottage. Carry on up drive to the garden.
Woodland walks with Snowdrops in February. Daffodil walk in April. A well established garden which includes the site of an iron age homestead. Panoramic views over seven counties. Woodland walks with mature rhododendrons, specimen trees, extensive lawns and shrubs. There is a walled garden with a variety of vegetables. Includes a woodland walk with planting of azaleas and rhododendrons.
Admission February £3.50, April £5.00, children free. 40% to Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association, net remaining to SGS charities.
Cream teas, plant stall, accommodation available, dogs on lead allowed, full disabled access.
Kilbryde Castle, Dunblane FK15 9NF. Off A820 Doune to Dunblane road, 3 miles from Doune and Dunblane. On Garden Scheme days, it is signposted from the A820.
Traditional Scottish baronial house rebuilt in 1877 to replace building dating from 1461. The gardens cover around 12 acres above the Ardoch Burn and below the castle. They are split into three sections - formal, woodland and wild. Spring bulbs (including huge drifts of snowdrops in the wild garden during March) and autumn colour. Natural planting of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias in the woodland garden. Cream teas and plant stall. Disabled access. Dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4, children free. 40% to Leighton Library, net remaining to SGS charities.
The Linns, Sheriffmuir, Dunblane, FK15 0LP
Sheriffmuir by Dunblane, telephone for additional directions.
A specialist collection of snowdrops. Open by appointment on first come first served basis as parking is limited. Snowdrop plants may be for sale.
Three and a half acres of woodland and herbaceous garden. A superb Plant Heritage (NCCPG) collection of Himalayan big blue poppies.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to Sophie North Charitable Trust , net remaining to SGS charities.
Glenarn, Glenarn Road, Rhu, Helensburgh G84 8LL.
On A814, two miles north of Helensburgh. Cars to be left at gate unless passengers are infirm.
Glenarn survives as a complete example of a 10 acre garden that spans from 1850 to the present day. Sheltered woodland garden overlooking the Gareloch. Glenarn is famous for its collection of rare and tender rhododendrons but there are many other horticultural delights including fine magnolias and other interesting trees and shrubs. In season there are profusions of snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, erythroniums and primulas. There is a vegetable garden with beehives and a rock garden with views over the Gareloch.
There is no general catering but catering for groups can be provided by prior arrangement.
Admission £4.00, no charge to accompanied children under 16. Donation to SGS charities.
Milseybank, Bridge of Allan, FK9 4NB
Situated on the A9, 1 mile from junction 11, M9 and 1/4 mile from Bridge of Allan. Milseybank is at the top of the lane at Lecropt Nursery 250 yards from Bridge of Allan railway station.
An interesting sloping garden with outstanding views, terraced for ease of access. Woodland with bluebells, rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias
Home made teas, plant stall, disabled access. Dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to Strathcarron Hospice, net remaining to SGS charities.
The Pass House, Kilmahog, Callander FK17 8HD. 2 miles from Callander on A84 to Lochearnhead.
Well planted medium sized garden with steep banks down to swift river. Garden paths are not steep. Camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, alpines and shrubs. The SGS plaque awarded for 25 years of opening will be on display.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme, net remaining to SGS charities.
Southwood and 1 Laurelhill Place, Stirling FK8 2JQ. From city centre signed from Carlton Bingo at Allan Park. From south signed from St. Ninian's Road. From west and north signed from Drummond Place and Dumbarton Road.
Southwood, 2 Southfield Crescent.
A Victorian walled garden which was redesigned in 1987. Long herbaceous borders within beech hedges, azaleas, rhododendrons, interesting varieties of shrubs and fully planted Dutch wall. Well stocked paeony bed on mound. Interesting specimen trees including Camperdown Elm, Himalayan Birch, Handkerchief Tree, Cutleaf Beech and a good variety of fruit trees. Asparagus and vegetables area. Southwood featured on "Beechgrove Garden" in June 2011.
1 Laurelhill Place.
A charming, well laid out, town garden with interesting shrubs and plants to the rear of the house. Uncovered ponds and lots of animals.
In addition a number of other gardens in the area will be open. Teas, plant stall, home baking and produce, bottle stall and other attractions.
Admission £5.00, children free. 40% to Strathcarron Hospice, net remaining to SGS charities.
Auchmar, Drymen G63 0AG.
From Erskine Bridge take A811 to Drymen. From Stirling take A811 to Drymen. From Glasgow take A809 to Drymen. Auchmar is 2½ miles from Drymen on the B837.
The 5½ acre garden was designed by the late Mary, Duchess of Montrose in 1935. The garden has a fine show of bluebells, azaleas and rhododendrons amongst mature specimen trees. There is a deep glen with a waterfall and woodland walks. The renovated walled garden has shrubs and a herbaceous border and a recent bridge extension to a new area of the garden. There are spectacular views of Loch Lomond.
Home made teas, plant stall, dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to The Preshal Trust, net remaining to SGS charities.
Ross Priory, Gartocharn G83 8NL.
Off A811 1½ miles from Gartocharn. Bus Balloch to Gartocharn leaves Balloch at 1 and 3 pm.
1812 Gothic addition by James Gillespie Graham to a house of 1693. The garden is has wonderful views over Loch Lomond. Rhododendrons, azaleas, selected shrubs and trees. Also a walled garden with glasshouses, a pergola and ornamental planting. Family burial ground. There are nature and garden trails.
Teas in house (which is not open to view). Plant stall, putting green, full disabled access, dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4 children free. 40% to CHAS, net remaining to SGS charities.
Thornhill Village Gardens, FK8 3QD.
From A84 Stirling to Doune road turn west onto A873 towards Aberfoyle. On A811 signed from Kippen roundabout.
Wester Coreshill, FK8 3QD.
A delightful garden approached by a beech hedged driveway, created over the last twenty years when the house was built. Extensive well stocked borders, lawns, vegetable garden and woodland.
Boghal, FK8 3QD.
Large farmhouse garden with borders flowing from gable to gable of the house. Nicely laid out shrub, perennial and woodland areas with fruit and vegetables.
24 Main Street, FK8 3PN.
This stunning village garden has densely planted double perennial borders, a mini potager, water feature, fruit trees and two arches covered with climbers.
57 Main Street, FK8 3PJ.
This is a long narrow garden stretching from the Main Street down to the Common Grazing. Full of colourful azaleas and rhododendrons there are many interesting things to see.
Little Norrieston, FK8 3QE.
A delightful ecological garden with RHS plants for pollenators. Special planting for birds, bees and other insects. Pollen and nectar filled plants. The owners are trying to create a natural habitat in this evolving, insect friendly, garden.
Home made teas, plant stall, partial disabled access. Various stalls at Norrieston Church Hall. The "Rusty Strings" will perform there at 16:00.
Admission £5.00, children free. 40% to Strathcarron Hospice, net remaining to SGS charities.
Lanrick, Doune FK16 6HJ.
Turn of the A84 at Doune onto the B8032. After about 1 mile the entrance is on the right.
Mature policies with lovely woodland walks along the River Teith; a rural oasis where you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of Scotland. Magnificent ponticums. Many interesting sights and features within the grounds. The 2 acre walled garden is the original walled garden of the, now demolished, Lanrick castle but is now a substantial work in progress. Planting began four years ago with ornamental shrubs, climbing roses, and many varieties of espalier fruit trees.
Home made teas in Indian Tent on the site of the original castle, plant stall, full disabled access, dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to The Sandpiper Trust, net remaining to SGS charities.
Burnbrae, Killearn G63 9NB.
From Stirling take A875 through Killearn, turn 3rd right after the Co-op. From Glasgow on A875 to Killearn take second left after Drumbeg Loan (after crossing 2 mini-roundabouts).
Well designed garden with an eye catching layout. Excellent sweeping lawns and interesting well stocked herbaceous borders. Varied shrubs. Magnificent backdrop of mature and specimen trees including a spectacular Red Chestnut. There is a glen with a burn available for the agile.
Burnbrae is a typical 1930's house designed by Hislop. The house is not open.
Home made teas full disabled access (except glen), dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to the Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme, net remaining to SGS charities.
Bridge of Allan Gardens, Bridge of Allan FK9.
Signposted from village. Maps and tickets available at all open gardens. Cream Teas available at St Saviour's Church Hall.
Some delightful and interesting gardens in Bridge of Allan including :-
Plaka, 5 Pendreich Road FK9 4LY.
Half acre of semi-terraced gardens divided into outdoor rooms with wild spaces. In addition there are rhododendrons, perennials and interesting stone and other features.
Kilmun Cottage, 1b Pendreich Road FK9 4PZ.
This third of an acre garden on a slope has been designed and beautifully landscaped by the owner within the last four years and exhibits much variety. A terraced garden with an attractive rockery and pond, raised beds with herbaceous plants including a fine Fothergilla major, vegetable plot with espalier apple trees, and a potential fruit garden with blueberry and other bushes leading to a wild area.
Garvia, 10 Fishers Green FK9 4PU.
Admission £5.00, children free. 30% to St Savior's Church, 10% to Strathcarron Hospice, net remaining to SGS charities.
Duntreath Castle, Blanefield G63 9AJ.
Located on A81 north of Glasgow between Blanefield and Killearn.
This is the first of its kind in Scotland. A two day garden bonanza - a horticultural spectacular with lots to see and do for all ages.
Gardening talks by experts including Steve Brookes, BBC Gardening presenter and author, cooking talks and demonstrations, Floral art show and demonstrations, gardening competitions, children's entertainments, hot and cold food, famous afternoon tea garden.
The Castle has extensive gardens with mixture of mature and new planting. Ornamental landscaped lake, waterfall garden with shrubs and spring planting and a bog garden. Extensive lawns below formal fountain and rose parterre with herbaceous border. Woodland walk. 15th century keep and chapel.
Plant stall, full disabled access, dogs allowed on lead only. NO PICNINCS
Admission £8.00, children under 15 free. All proceeds to Erskine Hospital, Canine partners, Scotland's Gardens, Artlink Central, S.A.F.A.S., Rotary, Camphill Village Trust and other charities.
Park House, Blair Drummond FK9 4UP.
Six miles north west of Stirling on the A84. One mile after the Safari Park entrance turn right at sign to caravan park. Continue up the hill, which has speed bumps, left at grass triangle. Park House is behind the hedge.
Mature three acre garden with herbaceous borders, lawns, vegetable garden and wild garden. Extensive woodland walks, currently under restoration, lead to Camphill Blair Drummond.
Teas at Camphill Blair Drummond,plant stall, full wheelchair access (provided grass is not too wet).
Admission £5.00, children free. 40% to Camphill;l Village Trust, net remaining to SGS charities.
Doune Village Gardens FK16 6DE.
Doune stands at the junction of the A820 from Dunblane and the A84 Stirling to Callander road.
An opening of several newly established gardens and others which have previously been open but updated by their owners. Includes Castle Hill garden which contains many different species of conifers.
Partial disabled access, dogs allowed on lead. Plant stall at Kilmadock Development Trust garden. Other stalls and teas at Doune Bowling Club.
Admission £5.00, children free. 40% to the Scottish Firemen's Benevolent Fund, net remaining to SGS charities.
Settie, Kippen FK8 3HN
Take the Fintry Road out of Kippen and take the 2nd on the right. Settie is approximately one third of a mile west of the outskirts of Kippen.
A one and a half acre country garden located to the south west of Kippen on an exposed site benefitting from wonderful views of the Trossachs. Settie is gaelic for "windy spot" and the owners have divided the garden into a series of rooms using tall random rubble sandstone walls. As a landscape gardener James has used this challenging site as an opportunity to demonstrate what can be done in either a country garden or an enclosed urban space.
Homemade teas in the barn, plant stall, dogs allowed on a lead.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to the Bob Savage Memorial Fund, net remaining to SGS charities.
The Gean House, Tullibody Road, Alloa FK10 2EL.
The Gean House is located on the Tullibody Road, Alloa.
The Gean House is an early 20th century Arts and Crafts style mansion. On arrival, the sweeping driveway from the main road takes you through beautiful parkland lined with trees to the Mansion set on top of the hill facing north east. The gardens surrounding the house originally extended to 40 acres and included a Japanese garden in the woods. All that now remains are seven acres on the southern and eastern aspects of the house. There is a rose garden situated directly outside the dining room window.
Cream teas in The Gean House.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to The Scottish Society for Autism, net remaining to SGS charities.
Thorntree, Arnprior FK8 3EY.
A811, take Fintry Road from Arnprior, garden is second on the right.
A charming cottage garden with flower beds arranged around a courtyard with views from Ben Lomond to Ben Ledi. There is an apple walk, fern garden and Saltire garden.
Robin Morris, a local bee keeper, will be available to answer your questions on bee keeping on 12 August and will have an inspection hive on display.
Cream Teas, Plant Stall, full disabled access.
Admission £4.00 children free. 40% to Riding for the Disabled, net remaining to SGS charities.
Rowberry, 18 Castle Road, Dollar FK14 7BE.
On the road up to Castle Campbell and overlooking Dollar Glen. In Dollar pass along the burn side, turn right at the "T" junction then follow the signs for Castle Campbell and Dollar Glen. Park at the bottom of Castle Road or in Quarry car park just up from the house.
A colourful garden which featured in the "Beechgrove Garden" in summer 2011. There are several mixed shrub and herbaceous borders, a wildlife pond two rockeries, fruit and vegetable gardens, a mini-orchard and alpine troughs. The owner is a plant enthusiast and likes to collect unusual specimens. She is a member of the Hillfoot Harmony Barbershop Singers who will be in attendance to serve afternoon teas and entertain with occasional songs.
Homemade teas, plant stall, dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to Hillfoot Harmony Barbershop Singers, net remaining to SGS charities.
Avonmuir House, Muiravonside, by Linlithgow, EH49 6LN.
From Junction 4 of the M9 follow the A803 towards Linlithgow. After about half a mile turn right into the road signposted to Whitecross. In the centre of Whitecross take the first right. Pass a small football ground and go round a sharp bend and just before the bridge over the Union Canal turn right towards Muiravonside Kirk and Cemetery. Immediately turn right again into the parking area in the field.
The house and gardens are the old Manse of Muiravonside built about 1795. There is a walled garden with fruiting trees and north and south facing borders. The gardens then lead through shrubs and young trees towards an old ruin with a walk along the burn back to the house.
There is a produce stall, homemade teas and a plant stall. Partial disabled access. The Linlithgow Union Canal Society will run short canal trips every half hour between 14:00 and 16:30.
Admission £4.00, children free. 40% to Combat Stress, net remaining to SGS charities.
Gargunnock House, Gargunnock FK8 3AZ.
5 miles west of Stirling on the A811.
Five acres of mature gardens, woodland walks, walled garden and 18th century doocot. Snowdrops in February and March, Daffodils in April and May, glorious display of rhododendrons and azaleas in May and June, wonderful trees and unusual flowering shrubs. Glorious autumn colours. Guided tours can be arranged for parties. The garden has featured in the Scotsman and Scottish Field. Plant stall at all times.
Homemade teas in Gargunnock House (23 September only), full disabled access, major plant sale including a wonderful selection of azaleas and rhododendrons on 23 September, dogs allowed on lead.
Admission £4.00 children free. 20% to Childrens' Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), 20% to Gargunnock Community Centre, net remaining to SGS charities.