Gorgeous Gardens & Glorious Views

This 3.5 mile circular route from Coldingham to St Abbs offers breathtaking views. It passes by the 11th century Coldingham priory and is a great chance to explore the stunning fishing village of St Abbs.

Mellerstain House is one of Scotland’s finest stately homes and its wonderful gardens do not disappoint. Set in acres of parkland and formal gardens, there are breathtaking views over the lawns and ornamental lake to the Cheviot Hills

Combining one of the finest Victorian kitchen gardens in the spectacular Walled Garden with the formal Millennium Garden, the gardens at Floors are a showpiece of seasonal interest and inspired new creations.

Known to be one of Sir Walter Scott’s favourite places to come and reflect, this viewpoint lets you admire a stunning view of the River Tweed backed by the famous Eildon Hills.

The extraordinary home of Scottish legend Sir Walter Scott, the man who gave us the historical novel, popularised tartan & rediscovered Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Its beautiful gardens and riverside walks are a plant lovers paradise!

Sat above the town of Selkirk is Philiphaugh Estate. Their fully restored Victorian Walled Garden & Nursery is an absolute delight and the estate offers many idyllic walks where you can enjoy wildlife, the landscape and the history of the area.

Dawyck Botanic Garden is a haven for nature lovers, it is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees in the country. There are beautiful flowering trees and shrubs from unusual rhododendrons at their best in the Spring to wonderful tinted Rowans and maples in the Autumn.

The Mennock Pass is the highest of the three named passes crossing the Lowther Hills. A stunningly scenic stretch of road, it runs from Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village to the hamlet of Mennock, just south of Sanquhar.

The Crawick Multiverse is a 55-acre former open cast coal mine now transformed into a striking landscape of distinctive landforms, each one representing astronomical and cosmological features and theories and is the vision of the late Charles Jencks.

The lovingly tended 40 acres of Drumlanrig Estate offer both inspiration and relaxation to everyone. From the exquisite Parterres and Rose Garden to the charming informality of Duchess Garden and the idyllic Woodland Garden, there is an abundance of things for the keen gardener to enjoy.

Rockcliffe is one of Scotland’s most beautiful coastlines, stretching along the Solway Firth on the southern edge of Dumfries and Galloway.

Part of a National Scenic Area, this National Trust for Scotland nature reserve is fringed with wildflowers and dotted with sailing villages. Further inland the shells and shingle give way to patches of ancient broadleaved woodland and meadows, rich with flowers, butterflies and birds.

Home of the School of Heritage Gardening since 1960, Threave Garden and Estate offers stunning examples of landscaped beauty along with a series of delightful smaller gardens showcasing different styles. They include a rose garden, rockery and wonderful walled garden. The estate also offers marvellous views over the Galloway Hills and Ken/Dee valley.

Carstramon Wood is a large semi-natural broadleaved woodland, near Gatehouse of Fleet. The oak trees were once used for making charcoal and supplying the local mill with bobbins. The wood is popular for the spectacular bluebells in spring and is popular among walkers.

Bruce’s Stone sits at the top of the hill on the north side of Loch Trool. It is a large granite boulder commemorating King Robert’s victory over the English in 1307, during the Scottish Wars of Independence. This spot was chosen as it is believed that this is where he commanded the ambush that took place on the Steps of Trool on the other side of the loch.

Glenwhan Gardens has been described as one of the most beautiful made gardens in Scotland with unique & stunning sea views across the Mull of Galloway. The Gardens are a labour of love, hewn from rough moorland 40 years ago. With the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, Glenwhan grows many tender plants from around the Southern Hemisphere, together with large collections of rare trees and shrubs. Don’t forget to stop off at the welcoming Tearoom to enjoy some delicious home baking!

Castle Kennedy Gardens are worth a visit at any time of year. The gardens are extensively landscaped with terraces, mounds and avenues, all of which were created by the 2nd Earl of Stair in the 1730s with the men and horses of the Royal Scots Greys and the Inniskilling Fusiliers. They extend to more than 30 hectares (75 acres).

Located on the south-western tip of Scotland and voted ‘Best Garden in the UK’ 2021, Logan Botanic Garden enjoys an almost subtropical climate. The garden’s avenues and borders feature a spectacular and colourful array of half-hardy perennials. Logan is warmed by the Gulf Stream which enables plants from Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America and Southern Africa to thrive.

The outstanding coastal reserve of the Mull of Galloway is surrounded by steep cliffs, home to locally important colonies of seabirds. Wherever you turn a stunning view lies ahead. Ireland, the Isle of Man, Cumbria and Galloway can all be seen in the distance, while all around you is the frenzied activity of a large cliff colony of sea birds. A designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, the Mull of Galloway is home to a wide array if wildlife in every season.