📌 Castle Kennedy, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★★
Gardens can be special for a number of reasons. Some are notable for their rare plant species; others are memorable for their sheer size, or for their intimate beauty. Others have some unusual, unexpected feature providing a unique centrepiece. But Castle Kennedy is special for having all of these qualities, making this one of the country’s most wonderful gardens and a must-see attraction if you’re visiting the far southwestern corner of Scotland in late spring or summer. The ivy-clad ruin of Castle Kennedy itself forms the natural focus for 75 acres of landscaped grounds, backed by a large, walled garden on the sunny south side. To the north, immaculate lawns slope down to the Round Pond, full of Victorian water lilies, with the Baronial grandeur of Lochinch Castle a little further on. Elsewhere, there are dozens of tree-lined avenues (including 21 “champion trees” – the tallest or broadest of their type either in the country or the county), landform sculptures, 9 designated viewpoints and 4 waymarked walks. The gardens are almost completely encircled by two lochs, with wildlife hides for water birds, otters and red squirrels.
🌍 Location
📌 Off the A75 at Castle Kennedy
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 111609
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 54.907218,-4.948813
🚌 Bus to Castle Kennedy (0.5 mi via Southern Upland Way)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily, April to October; weekends February to March – probably best late spring / early summer
🎫 £7 adult / £2.50 child
