Johnston Gardens

📌 Seafield, Aberdeen City
★★★

The Granite City’s most beautiful park happens to be one of its least known; Johnston Gardens are found in Aberdeen‘s wealthy western suburbs, and are a stunning, secret gem worth visiting for anyone spending time in the city. The park used to form part of a local estate, but came under city ownership in 1936. Rocky burns, colourful wooden bridges and narrow walkways wind between rhododendrons, maples and alpine rockeries, while a pond at the centre is a haven for water birds. The area is tiny – only measuring about 200 metres by 50, but the clever placing of trees and bushes somehow makes the garden feel many times larger, with several intimate corners and unexpected viewpoints.