Summer of Fun in Scotland’s Most Beautiful Gardens
June 30th 2023Scotland is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the world and throughout the summer many of these green and flower-filled spaces will be hosting a range of events.
From Shakespeare and superheroes to battle reenactments and children’s bug hunts, there’s something for everyone.
Events are taking place across the country and included in the line-up are sheep racing, vintage vehicles, spectacular horse riding stunts and music festivals, plus lots more.
Discover Scottish Gardens has put together a list of what’s on and where. So grab a picnic blanket and get ready to head outdoors for a summer of fun in the garden.
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
Throughout the summer this spectacular 75-acre garden, set between two lochs, will be running garden tours when the castle’s gardening team will give visitors insights into some of its most spectacular features, including the walled garden and the 300-year-old earthworks.
On Thursday, 13 July, Back Door Open Air Theatre will be staging a production of David Walliams’ Bad Dad and on Sunday, 23 July KG Hawks will be at Castle Kennedy with their beautiful birds of prey.
https://castlekennedygardens.com/
Logan will be holding regular guided walks through the garden as well as a variety of children’s activities, including bug safaris and pond dipping. Then on Thursday, 13 July, Stranraer African Drumming Group, Drum For Fun, will be making a big noise amongst the semi-tropical plants.
https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/logan-botanic-garden/
On Saturday, 12 and Sunday, 13 August Drumlanrig Castle will host Galloway Country Fair, with the Riders of Storm stunt team, Defender Jam for Land Rover enthusiasts, gun dog displays, the Blackstone Clydesdales, sheep racing in the Lamb National and lots more. There will also be opportunities throughout the summer to join knowledgeable guides on tours of Drumlanrig’s historic rooms and gardens.
https://www.drumlanrigcastle.co.uk/
BORDERS
The curtain goes up at Floors Castle on Tuesday, 4 July when the Three Inch Fools theatre company presents Robin Hood. Throughout the summer there’s a Mythical Monster Hunt for young visitors. On Saturday, 5 August the castle will form a spectacular backdrop to the music of Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis when Roxburghe Rocks gets underway and then on Friday, 18 August the Handlebards will present A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
PERTHSHIRE
The striking white castle that stands sentinel over the southern approach to the Cairngorms will be holding the annual Blair Castle International Horse Trials from Thursday, 24 until Sunday, 27 August. This is equitation at its highest standard and horses and riders will be testing their abilities in the cross-country course, through the exacting discipline of dressage and in the showjumping arena.
https://atholl-estates.co.uk/blair-castle/the-castle/
Get ready to go back to the 80s with the return of the Rewind Festival to Scone Palace. This year it takes place from Friday, 21 until Sunday, 23 July and the line-up will include Andy Bell from Erasure and Squeeze. Don’t miss The Pink Flamingo Club, the 80s style disco in a big top, the Inflatable Church, the Kids’ Zone or the spectacular fireworks that will close the event.
Before that there’s Falconry Friday, on Friday, 7 July and then from Friday, 4 until Sunday, 6 August Adventure Cinema will be bringing outdoor big screen action to the Palace.
There’s also a chance to get your hands dirty with a Walled Garden Experience, led by Scone head gardener Brian Cunningham. These will take place on Saturday, 19 August and Saturday, 16 September.
https://www.scone-palace.co.uk/
BUTE
Mount Stuart is one of the most spectacular big houses in Scotland and it contains a unique art collection. Less well-known is that amongst the artworks and sculpture is a treasure trove of comics, toys and associated superhero memorabilia collected by the Dumfries family over many generations. A new exhibition, Comics Uncovered: From Glasgow to Gotham, is a chance to see original drawings, sketches and work of satirists that traces the evolution of this important form of entertainment, from its Edwardian origins to the present day.
Before that on Saturday, 1 July Bute Vintage Club will be holding a Tractor Rally in the grounds and every Saturday morning runners of all abilities are invited to take part in the weekly Mount Stuart Park Run.
SKYE
Join in a series of Herbal Walks or discover Marvellous Moths in the company of experts at Armadale Castle. Or if you fancy local crafts, plants and produce, then come along on the second Sunday of every month for the Castle’s Monthly Marketplace. And every Thursday throughout the holidays, Summer Family Afternoon activities will include pond dipping, designing tartan and making model viking boats.
https://www.armadalecastle.com/
MORAY
Cawdor Castle near Nairn has its own special connection to the Bard,which makes it the ideal place to enjoy a Summer of Shakespear in the gardens.
The season begins on Friday, 7 July with As You Like It. On Sunday, 30 July there’s a chance to take a sideways look at some of Shakespeare’s most iconic heroes in MacHamLear and then on Saturday, 26 August the Handlebards will be bringing their high-octane version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Cawdor.
The outstandingly-beautiful, Gordon Castle Walled Gardens, which have been laid out by superstar garden designer, Arne Maynard, are filled with all kinds of flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs and throughout July and August there are opportunities to go foraging for botanical ingredients and then distil them into gin.
Also this summer, the gardens are participating in Clan Cancer’s Big Hop, which marks the 40th anniversary of the charity. The walled garden will be hosting three of the charity’s 40 giant hare sculptures, each one painted by a local artist, that will be popping up across the North East.
https://gordoncastlescotland.com/
ABERDEENSHIRE
The walls of this iconic castle will ring to the sound of steel on Saturday, 12 and Sunday, 13 August when Royalists once again face Covenanters in a reenactment of the Battle of Fyvie. Visitors will be able to travel back to 1644, at a time when the country was in the grip of civil war, and watch the thrilling action unfold in front of them. It won’t all be strife and mayhem, however, as the weekend will also include lots of fun activities for the whole family.
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/fyvie-castle
Take a seat on Sunday, 16 July for a performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor, filled with live music and comical characters. Then on Wednesday, 19 July young visitors will be thrilled by The Ugly Duckling. On Saturday, 22 July there’s the opportunity to discover the history, flowers and produce grown at Castle Fraser in the company of the Head Gardener. On Sunday, August 6 the castle will host the Aberdeen Performance Car Show. And on Saturday, 19 August and Sunday, 20 August the Castle Fraser History Weekend will explore 600 years of one of Scotland’s most impressive fortified homes, with battle reenactments and a chance to see the castle’s collection of swords and other armoury.
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/castle-fraser
ANGUS
On Wednesday, 5 July this iconic castle will be the setting for an open air performance of As You Like It by the Three Inch Fools theatre company. That will be followed on Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 July when Strathmore Vintage Vehicles stage the 47th Scottish Transport Extravaganza in the grounds and Sunday, 13 August will mark Glamis’ annual Summer Family Fun Day, with activities and entertainment for everyone.
