Cambo Gardens
The Stables Visitor Centre, Cambo, Kingsbarns, Fife, KY16 8QD
Cambo’s reputation for its national snowdrop collection is well known, as are its collection of winter gardens to inspire and delight. However, Cambo’s late summer perennial plantings are breathtakingly beautiful. Teaming with tremendous colour, the garden is at one of its peaks in September, when the plantings come alive and are joined by a significant collection of trees to delight visitors with their autumnal tones.
Cambo boasts a large, 2.5-acre walled garden, and its varied topography allows visitors to enjoy vistas throughout the garden of the significant collection of perennials and shrubs, nestled within the ancient fruit trees, old roses and tender coastal loving species. A key feature at Cambo is the canalised burn. It meanders through the gardens, allowing visitors to enjoy the tumbling water as it cascades through the planting, with views to pools and waterfalls from a series of bridges that span its length.
In September, whilst the snowdrops slumber, the showstoppers at Cambo include the double herbaceous borders, with their late season interest perennials and grasses peaking perfectly together. The Cambo North American Prairie is unique in Scotland, a substantial planting of bold and beautiful North American Prairie species. Planted in 2009 and grown from seed, this enchanting bed of Echinaceas, mingling with Prairie Bergamot, an array of asters, vivid yellow daisies and sweeping grasses, mesmerise visitors as they walk through the winding paths filled with butterflies and become immersed in its exquisiteness.
A recent restoration project of Cambo’s historic stables, dating from the 1760s, has created a visitor hub including a café, shop and extensive plant sales. A range of Alitex glasshouses have been reinstated in the walled garden, bursting with plants to touch the senses and seasonal tender produce.
Managed by Cambo Heritage Trust, the gardens support a new generation of trainees, volunteers and modern apprentices in horticulture who add youth, energy and innovation to the all-season gardens, resulting in a dynamic and evolving horticultural experience for visitors.
Website: www.camboheritagetrust.org.uk
Telephone: 01333 451040
Admission costs: £5.50 for adults, children and carers are free. RHS free entry on Wednesdays. Coach parties welcome.
Opening Hours: Everyday 10am-5pm
Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org
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