Gardens near Portpatrick

Portpatrick has no less than 11 gardens and nurseries within less than an hour`s drive from the village, including the famous Logan Botanic Gardens. One of the gardens is even within walking distance (see walks section).

Here are a few details about each of the gardens. Prices were correct as at March 2010

 

Dunskey Gardens and Maze

This is the nearest garden to Rickwood and Portpatrick. Turn left into Heugh Road, left again at the War Memorial, first left once again and the entrance is on your left after about half a mile.

Dunskey Gardens feature an 18th century Walled Garden and also 19th century glasshouses with fruit and exotic flowers. There are also  developing woodland gardens with lochside views and rich native flora and fauna.

unskey Gardens also features a maze, probably the first to be planted in South West Scotland.

Plants grown at Dunskey Gardens are available for sale.

Seasons Tearoom in Dunskey Gardens has interesting murals and a terrace. It provides light lunches and home baking.

The head gardner hosts an interesting tour of Dunskey Gardens every Wednedsay at 11.30 am with no additional charge.

Dunskey Gardens are open Easter - October 10am - 5 pm and also at weekends in February and March for viewing the extensive snowdrop collection.

Price - £4 adults, £1 children, Family £10 Concs £3.60

 

 Logan Botanic Gardens -  Port Logan

From Portpatrick, follow the A77 through Lochans and turn right at the T junction. Follow road past Sandhead and, shortly after passing through Ardwell, turn right. Logan Botanic Gardens are on the rt. hand side before the village of Port Logan

These are the most southerly gardens in Scotland and are unrivalled as the country`s most exotic gardens. The mild climate enables a remarkable collection of strange and beuatiful plants to thrive including many from the southern hemisphere - particularly Tasmania.

Logan Botanic Gardens are one of the top five visitor attractions in Dumfries & Galloway

Features are many and include a colourful Walled Garden with tree ferns and plams, a Woodland Garden, a Water Garden and a Terrace Garden.

There is also a recently created Tasmanian Creek!

The Salad Bar has delicious home cooking and there is also a craft and plant shop.

Logan Botanic Gardens are open 1 March - 31 October, 10am - 5pm and until 6pm Aril - September. They are also open on Sundays in February

Prices, Adult £5, Child £1, Family £10 Concs £4

 

Logan House Gardens

 These smaller gardens are on the A716 before Logan Botanical Gardens.

This is a spectacular woodland garden with rare and exotic tropical plants and shrubs. Fine species and hybrid rhododendrons.

Open 2 Feb - 21 March 10am - 4pm, 22 March - 31 August 9am -6pm

Admission £3, children under 16 -free. - proceeds to charity

 

Ardwell Gardens

These gardens are near the village of Ardwell between Sandhead and Port Logan.

The gardens surround an 18th century Country House (not open to the public) with the formal layout round the house blending into the informality of woods and shrubberies.

In the spring, daffodils provide a carpet of colour. There are fine azaleas,camellias and rhododendrons, a walled garden,summer bedding and herbaceous borders.

The walk around the largest pond (about half an hour) gives fine views over Luce Bay.

There are plants for sale in the walled garden

Open- 1 April - 30 September, daily 10am - 5pm

Adult £3,children under 14, free, concs £2

 

 Castle Kennedy & Gardens

From Portpatrick, take A77 to Stranraer then the A77 towards Dumfries. The entrance to the gardens is a few miles out of Stranraer on the left hand side of the road.

These gardens are set in stunning scenery between two large lochs ands extend to 75 acres of landscaped terraces, avenues and gardens. With the romantic ruin of the 16th century Castle Kennedy overlooking a herbaceous border at one end and Lochinch Castle at the other, these famous gardens are well worth visiting.

The gardens contain many Champion Trees (tallest or largest of their type) Rhododendrons, Magnolias, a  unique Monkey Puzzle Avenue and many tender exotic plants.

Castle Kenndy and gardens was one of the locations in the cult movie The Wickerman

There is a charming tea room serving delicious home baking and light meals, a gift shop,plant centre and children`s activities.

Open weekends in February, March & October. Daily April - September. 

Adult £4, Child £1, concs £3, family £10

 

 Aldouran Wetland Garden - Leswalt

The wetland lies on the edge of Leswalt Village, adjacent to Aldouran Glen Woodland. Although artificially assisted, it has now naturalised and sustains a wide variety of plant,bird and insect life.

There is a bird hide situated between the wetland and the woodland which provides an ideal place for bird watching.

The Community Garden has a series of raised beds linked by all ability paths. The creation of the garden , originally intended to be of purely multi-sensory appeal, now includes native plants and young trees which has resulted in a wide diversity of wildlife both i nthe garden and the wetland.

The garden is maintained by volunteers.

There is also a walk through Aldouran Glen which takes about an hour and provides beautiful views of Loch Ryan.

 

Glenwhan Garden & Tea Room

Follow A77 to Stranraer then A75 towards Dumfries. Drive through Castle Kennedy to Dunragit where the entrance is on your left.

Along with Logan Botanic Gardens, Glenwhan Gardens are one of the most popular among visitors to Rickwood.

This 12 acre garden  perched on an outcrop of the western seaboard was created by the present owners out of a barren south facing hillside!

30 years on, Glenwhan is a beautiful garden filled with an intersting collection of plants from all over the world. the focus is around several lakes with a background of sea and views over Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway.

Adjoining the garden a 17 acreWildflower Walk has recently opened where over 120 species of flowers, grasses and ferns may be discovered.

Red squirrels, wildfowl and many other varieties of birds enjoy these surroundings.

A variety of interesting sculptures with seats placed at strategic poiunts may be discovered in the garden.

Tearoom and light lunches available.

Open 22 March - 31 October daily. 10am - 5pm (tearoom closes 30 Sept0

Adult £4.50, Concs £3.50, family £10   

 

Galloway Plants and Claymoddie Garden near Whithorn

This nursery is a bit further away, being near Whithorn but is worth a visit if you are in the area possibly exploring the harbour village, Isle of Whithorn or the centre dedicated to St Ninian and the Cradle of Christianity in Whithorn itself. The drive along the coast of Luce Bay towards Whithorn is one of our favourites.

From the A75, the road to Whithorn goes off to the right at the top of the hill near Glenluce and goes through Port Wlliam and Monreith before reaching Whithorn. The gardens are near Glasserton which is shortly before Whithorn and are signposted from there.

Galloway Plants have a vast range of plants available, all of which are propogated from Claymoddie Gardens stock.

The gardens contain a wide variety of meticulously  positioned plants, old favourites and exotica from the Southern Hemisphere and elsewhere.

Gardens open 23 April - 26 September, Friday - Sunday only, 2pm - 5pm

£3 admission.

 

Galloway House Gardens, Garlieston

These gardens are also near Whithorn. On the outskirts of Whithorn, the road to Garlieston is signposted.

These historic gardens were created in 1740 by Lord Garlies and are still maintained according to his original plans as informal pleasure grounds where wild flowers and plants have their place beside more exotic cultivated species.

In early spring the gardens are bright with snowdrops and daffodils, followed by a display of rhododendrons, azelias and many fine trees and shrubs. Enjoy peaceful walks among the lovely old trees and flowering shrubs to the quiet seashore and sandy bay.

Open all year 9am - 5pm

Admission £2 per car + voluntary donation.

 

Elmlea Plants  near Newton Stewart

Further afield, near Newton Stewart, Elmlea Plants are a small family run nursery specialising in herbaceous perennials and grasses.  Admision free

 

Bayview Nursery, Wigtown

This nursery is situated in Wigtown, Scotland`s Book town and is centrally situated within the walled garden of Wigtown House Hotel.

The nursery has spectacular views overlooking Wigtown Bay and Nature Reserve.

Bayview were gold medal winners at the Galloway Garden Festival and have an extensive and eclectic range of plants most of which are grown on site with others sourced locally. Many of the species are unusual and rarely available.

Their aim is to give a warm welcome to all customers providing the right plants for the right place along with cultivation information if required.

Thousands of varied plants are always in stock.

Open all year 9am - 5pm 

 

 Rickwood Hotel Style Guest House in Portpatrick,South West Scotland

Bed & Breakfast, Dinner Bed & Breakfast

No 1 B&B in Portpatrick (TripAdvisor)

Ideal base for visiting Logan Botanic Gardens and the Mull of Galloway