4 nights starting from
£1295
Floors Castle
Kailzie Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Amisfield Walled Garden
Humbie Dean Garden ©Frank Kirwan
Meconopsis © Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Floors Castle
Dawyck Estate © Royal Botanics Edinburgh
Carolside Gardens
Humbie Dean Garden © Frank Kirwan
Glasshouse © Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Kailzie Gardens
Amisfield Walled Garden
The Rock Garden © Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Glorious Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh and Dawyck
Beautiful Walled Gardens at Amisfield, Monteviot
A network of trails and pathways at Kailzie Gardens
Carolside's historical collection of ancient roses
Accompanied by accomplished plantsman, David Hurrion
This Gardeners World Exclusive tour focuses on the gardens of the beautiful Scottish Borders south of Edinburgh. Based on the outskirts of the charming town of Peebles in the heart of the region, we'll be well placed to explore the area and the array of wonderful gardens in a range of interesting styles. With a mix of guided tours and free flow visits, explore the historic arboretum of Dawyck, the walled gardens of Kailzie and Amisfield, and the lovely gardens at Floors Castle, one of Scotland's finest houses. View rare plants, water gardens, and colour graded planting schemes, plus the 8-metre-high 165-metre-long Beech Hedge at Edinburgh which is made up of 158 different trees and takes around two weeks for two gardeners to cut! All accompanied by plant expert, garden enthusiast and genial host David Hurrion, this is a tour not to be missed.
Available Departures |
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| 07 - July - 2025 | £ 1295.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1 Arrival
Arrive independently at the Hydro Hotel, Peebles from 15.00. Evening welcome drink and talk from David Hurrion followed by a group dinner.
Day 2 Dawyck Botanic Garden and Kailzie Gardens
We start our touring today with a visit to Dawyck Botanic Garden, a 65-acre garden offering woodland walks past some of Britain's oldest and tallest trees, and a stunning collection of shrubs and seasonal displays. Free time for lunch (not included) before heading to the attractive, privately-owned walled gardens at Kailzie, home to the oldest larch tree in Scotland, planted in 1725. An extensive network of trails and pathways lead past colourful rhododendrons and the blue petaled meconopsis, sometimes known as the Himalayan blue poppy.
Day 3 Floors Castle and Monteviot Gardens
After breakfast we head an hour east to Floors Castle, the largest inhabited castle in Scotland, to see its beautiful gardens and grounds that include a superb Victorian Kitchen Garden, spectacular walled garden, formal French style Millennium Garden and Star Plantation. Time for lunch (own expense), before heading to Monteviot Gardens which surround the early eighteenth-century lodge built by the 1st Marquis of Lothian. Highlights include the herb garden with its box hedge layout and lavender border, an impressive variety of roses in a sheltered Victorian walled area, and a peaceful Japanese Water Garden, all with a backdrop of the winding River Teviot and the hills beyond.
Day 4 Carolside Gardens and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
First today we coach to the private 200-year-old gardens at Carolside, Earlston, set in the grounds of an 18th century mansion, with its historical collection of ancient roses. In his book, “Scotland for Gardeners” Kenneth Cox describes it as one of Scotland’s finest gardens. Later we travel into Edinburgh to the Royal Botanic Garden which has been the major centre for rhododendron research since the late 19th century, and is home to some the world's rarest and most threatened plants. The gardens feature a Chinese hillside, glasshouses, biodiversity garden, and Rock Garden with views of Edinburgh's spectacular skyline.
Day 5 Amisfield Walled Garden and Humbie Dean Garden
Our final day starts with a visit to the large 18th century garden of Amisfield which is completely enclosed by 16-foot-high stone walls. The garden has been transformed over the last 15 years with herbaceous borders, fruit trees, wildflower meadow and vegetable plots. In the afternoon we visit the final attraction of our tour, the ornamental and wooded garden at Humbie Dean which includes interesting planting across two acres, all on different levels.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 40 passengers.
Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to time spent walking around the gardens and standing time on tours. Pathways may be gravel, paved, or grass and will be uneven in places. After rainfall some paths may be muddy and slippery. Some gardens contain steps and terraces, without handrails. There will be some places to sit at each garden to enjoy the beautiful landscapes.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Hydro Hotel, Peebles
Situated in beautiful Scottish Borders countryside with lovely views, this four-star hotel is ideally located for this tour and has a restaurant, lounge, cocktail bar, spa, fitness centre with pool and golf course as well as very comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities including ensuite bathroom, hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities.
Hotel Website
Your Guide - David Hurrion
David started gardening as a young child and has been growing plants for more than 40 years. He has worked in gardens and nurseries, growing on a range of different soils and in different types of microclimate. His extensive knowledge and practical experience of plants, crops and growing techniques is founded on a thorough botanical and scientific training, complemented by an in depth understanding of garden design, wildlife, geology and climatology. He also trained as a teacher and has taught a huge diversity of subjects from botany, soil science and plant identification, to propagation, garden design and crop production, and from City & Guilds through to Degree level. He is also a popular speaker with local gardening groups.
As a journalist, David has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, currently as Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. He has also written for a number of websites and appeared both as a regular contributor and an expert commentator on TV and radio. David is a popular figure in the horticultural world, well liked and respected for his knowledge by nurserymen, professional gardeners, journalists and the gardening public. He has designed, built and planted show gardens and display stands at most of the major garden shows in the UK, including the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, and is now a Designate Judge for the Royal Horticultural Society.
He has also travelled to every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, to discover plants and gardens, both independently and on more than 50 trips accompanying groups of gardeners
Please note that all our UK tours start and finish at the relevant hotel.
You can normally check in from 3pm onwards but hotels will always be happy to store your luggage if you arrive earlier in the day.
For full details of how to get to the hotel, directions and the nearest train station, please click on the hotel website or call our office for details. These will also be sent automatically with your confirmation.
The welcome reception and first evening dinner / talk will commence at about 6pm - full details will be sent with your joining instructions about 10 days prior to the arrival date.
