Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, DG3 4AQ
The joy of having a big garden is that you can invite all your friends over for a party on the lawn and that’s exactly what will be happening at Drumlanrig in August on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11, when the 40 acres surrounding the castle will play host to Galloway Country Fair.
Over the course of the weekend, visitors will be treated to displays of country sports, carriage rides from the magnificent Blackstone Clydesdales, classic four-wheel vehicle fun with the Defender Jam Landrover Festival as well as trick riding and dressage displays.
The entertainment, which will include a children’s zone, crafts and food stall, along with live music from bagpipe rock band Drums N’ Roses, will take place against the backdrop of one of Scotland’s most magnificent castles and its extensive gardens.
Close to the castle there are several parterres and a rose garden filled with summer blooms.
A bog garden has been developed using all kinds of damp-loving species and the castle also has a large rock garden where Alpine species flourish.
A long border, backed by a wall, is devoted to perennials, which are at their best this month and the extensive plantings of hydrangea, which are now starting to open, will continue looking good well into autumn.
Meanwhile the 183m long Terrace Walk is home to many tender climbing plants. Some of the plants that grow in the gardens are available to buy from the Larchwood Cabin, which also houses a visitors’ cafe. Nearby there’s an adventure playground for children and the grounds also play host to Scottish Assault Courses, who provide a range of exciting outdoor challenges, including axe throwing and bushcraft.
For those who prefer a more gentle form of outdoor exercise, then there are also opportunities to volunteer with the gardening team and learn the techniques involved in caring for an historic garden.
Drumlanrig Castle sits in the Nith Valley, which carves a winding gorge through the Southern Uplands and the estate is covered in thousands of acres of woodland, with walking and cycling trails offering visitors a chance to explore the landscape. One of the trails leads to a viewpoint which provides wide views across the landscape and holiday cottages on the estate offer accommodation for those who want to immerse themselves for longer in the natural beauty of the area.
Dumfries and Galloway is rich in wildlife and barn owls, badgers, otters, woodpeckers, Little Grebes and newts are just some of the species that live in the waters and woodlands around the castle.
Spread across the gardens and estate are many interesting structures including glasshouses, summer houses and pavilions, as well as a series of ‘Heather Houses’, which were built from local materials, including heather, as part of an employment programme during the depression of the 1930s.
Back in the 18th century a two-mile pipeline, now fallen into disrepair, was created in order to feed a cascade while a more recent addition is the magnificent Leaping Arch, created by internationally-renowned landscape artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
Drumlanrig Castle itself is home to a magnificent art collection that includes works by Alan Ramsay, Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Details: The gardens are open daily 9.30am-4.30 am
(The gardens will be closed while filming takes place during a number of dates in July, so check before travelling.)
Tickets - £8/£7/£7 (under 5s free) Tel: 01848 331555 info@drumlanrigcastle.co.uk www.drumlanrigcastle.com Drumlanrig Castle is situated just off the A76, 17 miles north of Dumfries.
In association with Discover Scottish Gardens
www.discoverscottishgardens.org
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