Glenwhan Gardens, Dunragit by Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Dumfries & Galloway DG9 8PH
Glenwhan Gardens, with its Gaelic meaning a ‘green & rushy place’ as it was 45 years ago, is now transformed into a plantsman’s paradise. It has been described as one of the most beautiful newly made gardens in Scotland, with unique and stunning sea views across to the Isle of Man, Luce Bay, and the Mull of Galloway.
Tessa Knott has been developing the 12-acre garden over the past four decades from bare moorland to the vibrant landscape it is today. A labour of love, the garden now features an arboretum with a tree trail of over 160 species, two small lakes, a rock garden and a 20-acre moorland wild walk, offering the chance to see a red squirrel or two.
With the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, Glenwhan grows many tender plants from around the Southern Hemisphere, together with large collections of rare trees and shrubs. Many plants have been collected in the wild and grown from seed. Standout species include rhododendrons, azaleas, primulas, camellias, marginal plants, heathers and herbaceous borders.
Visitors are in for a treat at Glenwhan no matter the season, with winding paths, well-placed seats, and varied sculptures dotted around the small lakes, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. After a calm stroll around its luscious landscape, visitors can stop by Glenwhan’s ‘Taste Your Best’ awarded tearoom, open throughout the spring and summer months. A potager and herb garden supplies the tearoom with fresh produce, which is included in the dishes wherever possible. The tearoom prides itself on its delicious home baking and warming homemade soup.
Website: www.glenwhangardens.co.uk
Telephone: 01581 400222
Opening times: During the winter months, you can access the garden with an honesty box at the entrance. The garden reopens for spring on 1st April and Easter until 30th September. Please walk dogs on leads.
Admission costs: Adults £6, concessions £4.50, children over 12 £1.50, family ticket (up to 3 children) £14.00 and season tickets £18.00. Royal Horticulture Society members go free on Saturdays showing membership card.
Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here