Scottish Snowdrop Festival Set To Brighten Up The New Year

January 22nd 2021

The snowdrop is the symbol of resilience during the dark days of winter and this year more than ever before the annual Scottish Snowdrop Festival holds out hope of better times ahead.

This year the Festival, which is organised by Discover Scottish Gardens, will run from 25 January to 11 March. With Scotland hosting dozens of locations for ‘galanthophiles’, or snowdrop enthusiasts, this year’s festival will focus on showcasing the wonderful displays in member gardens across social media. Given current government restrictions, travel and most events are not permitted at this time. Therefore the Scottish Snowdrop Festival will instead highlight self-guided tours for those located near gardens and participating in the festival as well as featuring must-see snowdrop collections for the 2022 Festival across social media.

At this time of year, it is important to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the uplifting sight of gardens and woodlands and how they are transformed by carpets of one of nature’s most cherished flowers. However, visitors should comply and adhere to all government regulations and not travel beyond their permitted area.

All are invited to tune into Discover Scottish Gardens social media for snowdrop updates and displays across the country. Should conditions change and visitor-events be possible, an updated list of events will be shared online. For those living nearby gardens and woodlands, please plan ahead and ensure the garden you intend to visit is open and accepting visitors.

Cambo Gardens has cancelled all Snowdrop Markets, but will be running virtual tours on social media and Facebook Galanthus garden tips.

Locals are invited to enjoy a walk round Attadale Gardens and to hunt for snowdrops on Thursdays in February from 10:00-16:00.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has a fascinating collection of specialist snowdrops, heralding the first signs of spring. Look out for them throughout the Garden or ask the visitor welcome team for specific locations. All visits require a time slot ticket, booked online in advance. Tickets are free.

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme hope to be opening some of their gardens for the Scottish Snowdrop Festival in February and March, so please check their website to see what’s on. In the meantine, you can still visit many of their gardens through their Virtual Garden Visits ( Virtual Garden Visits.)

The Scottish Snowdrop Festival is a long-established event and Catherine Erskine, chair of organisers, Discover Scottish Gardens, says: “We started off with just a handful of gardens but every year the numbers taking part have grown and I think this season, more than any other, it will be important for many people to get out and have their spirits lifted in the midst of winter. After all, the snowdrop is the classic symbol of hope for the future during dark times.”

For inspiration on where to explore snowdrop displays in your region, see below, but please plan and check ahead as the situation can chance quickly for gardens.

Aberdeenshire