See snowdrops in castle grounds, winter woodlands and
even by starlight!
After the busy festive period, refresh your senses at a
surprising variety of locations during the Scottish Snowdrop
Festival, 4 February to 18 March 2012.
Taking place at over 50 gardens across
Scotland’s mainland, the festival is a great chance to get out in
the fresh air and explore your local area, visit gardens and parks
- some of which are open especially for the festival - and
enjoy around 300 types of this delicate white flower which appears
to defeat the cold winter by bursting into life each year.
The versatility of the snowdrop means that they grow in a wide
range of locations, so you can see a lot of what Scotland has to
offer by visiting the Snowdrop Festival gardens. Everything from a
footpath sprinkled with snowdrops by a waterfall which inspired
Robert Burns in Perthshire, to carpets of snowdrops at Culzean
Castle in South Ayrshire can be enjoyed. During a visit you can
also tour castles and stately homes, visit deer parks and tea rooms
or see specialist varieties of snowdrop like those at
the Shepard House Snowdrop Theatre in East Lothian.
Up in
Sutherland you can take in the natural beauty of a sea of snowdrops
on a coastal walk at Dunrobin Castle, whilst those looking for a
bit of drama should head to Snowdrops by Starlight at Cambo
Woodland Gardens in Fife. On an illuminated evening walk,
the snowdrops - including varieties such as the
intriguingly named Grumpy, Heffalump, Comet, Robin Hood and Walrus
- are lit up along with magnificent trees and woodland
sculptures.
For your chance to win a break for two at 2 to Cambo House in
Fife, make sure that you enter our
competition!
Find participating snowdrop gardens by
region:
*Please be aware that dates published for snowdrop openings are
‘general’ as unfortunately snowdrops do not flower to order and
their flowering can be dependent on which part of the country they
are growing in and indeed the variations in our climate. As a
general rule, they are two weeks earlier in the Borders and
Dumfries & Galloway than in the east of Scotland and those
growing further north and/or on higher ground can be
later still. Bearing this in mind it may be advisable to
telephone the gardens you are interested in visiting to
check.
If you would like to visit one of the gardens
listed but you are unable to visit during Snowdrop season, please
contact the individual garden directly for details of opening times
during the rest of the year.
-
Caprington Castle
Ayrshire & Arran
Ancient farmed landscape with mixed woodland policies, well carpeted with snowdrops; includes an early walled garden with fruit, vegetables and flowers. New stumped garden.
Read more
55.582808
-4.495811
-
Culzean Castle and Country Park (NTS)
Ayrshire & Arran
Carpets of snowdrops border the drive and woodland walk between the castle and the swan pond. Other attractions include Deerpark Coastline gardens and a children’s playground.
Read more
55.345053
-4.780377
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