South of Scotland - Castles, Big Houses and Gardens Culzean Castle, Ayrshire Dawyck Botanic Garden, near Peebles Caerlaverock Castle, near Dumfries Traquair Medieval Fayre, Innerleithen Ideas to Inspire Events With rich histories and lush, fertile soil, this part of the country has m ay –Traquair Medieval Fayre, Traquair House some incredible places to visit. Spend days wandering through History comes alive at this event with its awesome displays majestic corridors and rooms of stately homes, exploring former of jousting, archery and falconry along with medieval clan strongholds and admiring the fragrant blossoms of beautifully tournaments, early music, jesters and more. manicured gardens. www.traquair.co.uk From Edinburgh, follow the coastline to Eyemouth to discover a june – Festival of Motoring, Thirlestane Castle smuggler’s palace which is full of secrets, before heading inland Brought to you by the Borders Vintage Automobile Club where an array of historic properties awaits. (BVAC), this event has over 1,000 vintage vehicles and classic cars on display. From cute Minis to sleek retro Italian sports The old days of Border warfare and conflict are reflected by a legacy cars, find your favourite motor in the castle grounds. of castles and fortresses. Some of these, in turn, developed into the www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk stately homes and mansions you see today. These grand buildings july – Music at Paxton, Paxton House were designed with attention to detail, and the ornate features and Be delighted by the sound of chamber music at this annual overwhelming elegance of these properties will no doubt impress. festival, set against a majestic backdrop. Listen to talented Your trip could include a visit to the beautiful home of renowned musicians perform works spanning from the Baroque to the present day. writer Sir Walter Scott, or a tour of Traquair, the oldest inhabited www.musicatpaxton.co.uk house in Scotland which even has its own brewery. For castles that july – Spectacular Jousting, Caerlaverock Castle are set in stunning surroundings, visit Floors or Thirlestane, or At this family-friendly event, watch in awe as chivalric knights venture to other awe-inspiring properties in the Scottish Borders. ride noble steeds in a nail-biting tournament which will transport you back to medieval times. In Dumfries & Galloway, prepare yourself for some historical gems, www.historicenvironment.scot including the towering ruins of the moated Caerlaverock Castle, August Floors Castle with its rare triangular shape. The journey to Threave Castle will no – Massed pipe bands, Set against the stunning castle backdrop, see the incredible doubt leave a lasting impression - it’s only reachable by a short spectacle of dozens of pipe bands from the Scottish Borders boat crossing across the River Dee. and the Lothians as they perform on mass. As you venture further into Galloway, you will soon be struck by the www.floorscastle.com choice of gardens to visit, where the mild winds from the Gulf August – Galloway Country Fair, Drumlanrig Castle Stream encourage adventurous gardening where exotic plant life Experience a taste of rural life. Try country pursuits and enjoy thrives. Your trip could conclude with a visit to a grand castle and great entertainment, including dog events, falconry displays, country park on Scotland’s west coast. Located in Ayrshire and built field sports and off-road driving taster sessions, or browse by Robert Adam, Culzean is an impressive clifftop spectacle with a stalls for crafts, food & drink, country attire and more. wonderful history. www.gallowaycountryfair.co.uk For more ideas and contacts go to www.visitscotlandtraveltrade.com or email [email protected] South of Scotland - Castles, Big Houses and Gardens Day one - Scottish Borders 1 2 3 4 5 Gunsgreen House – located in Paxton House – this beautiful Thirlestane Castle – dating from the Mellerstain House & Gardens – Floors Castle – Scotland’s largest the fishing town of Eyemouth, the property in Berwick-upon-Tweed 16th century, Thirlestane in Lauder is this Georgian mansion has an art inhabited castle is the home striking house was designed by John boasts a significant collection of the home of the Maitland family and collection and period furniture, along of the Duke of Roxburghe. This Adam and holds a few smuggler’s Chippendale and Trotter furniture Bonnie Prince Charlie was known to with extensively landscaped grounds large and sumptuous property secrets. Group tours require pre- and masterpieces from the National have stayed the night here. Bespoke and terraced gardens offering holds extensive collections of art, booking and can be offered on any Galleries of Scotland. Specialised tours and catering arrangements an open vista to a parkland lake. tapestries and porcelain, and has day of the week. tours for groups are an option. offered to groups. Discounted group entry is available Victorian kitchen gardens and a T: 01890 752062 T: 01289 386291 T: 01578 722430 for parties of 20+. spectacular walled garden. E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 01573 410225 T: 01573 223 333 www.gunsgreenhouse.org www.paxtonhouse.co.uk www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.mellerstain.com www.floorscastle.com Day two - Scottish Borders 1 2 3 4 5 Monteviot House & Gardens Abbotsford – situated near Melrose, Bowhill House & Country Estate Traquair House – Traquair is Dawyck Botanic Garden – near – special shrubs and trees and the home of 19th century writer – fine art, furnishing and tapestries Scotland’s oldest inhabited house Peebles lies Dawyck Botanic Garden, imaginative water features can Sir Walter Scott is one of the most are some of the indoor highlights of and once played host to Mary where some of Britain’s oldest and be found across the vast array of famous houses in the country and Bowhill, located by Selkirk, whilst Queen of Scots. As well as the tallest trees can be discovered gardens at Monteviot, near Jedburgh. surrounded by beautiful scenery. outdoors, there are pleasant country house to explore, there’s a maze along with stunning seasonal The house is open in July with coach Free entry and complimentary walks and opportunities to spot within the grounds and a brewery. floral displays of both exotic and parties by arrangement only refreshments are available to driver wildlife. Tours of house and gardens Personal guided tours by the owner, native plants. The garden has an T: 01835 830380 and tour director for groups of 10+. and other outdoor activities available Catherine Maxwell Stuart, can be award-winning visitor centre. Coach E: [email protected] T: 01896 752043 to groups – pre-booking required. arranged in advance. parking available by arrangement. www.monteviot.com E: [email protected] T: 01750 22204 T: 01896 830323 T: 01721 760 254 www.scottsabbotsford.com E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.bowhillhouse.co.uk www.traquair.co.uk www.rbge.org.uk/the-gardens/dawyck Day three - Dumfries & Galloway 1 2 3 4 5 Gilnockie Tower – home of the Clan Caerlaverock Castle – not far from Drumlanrig Castle – impressive Threave Castle – dating from 1369, Threave Garden & Estate – within Armstrong Centre, Gilnockie is a Dumfries lies the majestic ruin of Drumlanrig was used as a filming this formidable ruined tower house easy reach of Castle Douglas is fine example of a Borderlands pele Caerlaverock Castle, unusual in its location on the second series of was once an island stronghold for Threave Garden, a garden for tower. It overlooks the River Esk and triangular shape and moat. The TV show Outlander and sits in a the powerful Black Douglases and is all seasons which is owned by can be found near Langholm. Visit to castle has a turbulent history, given beautiful 90,000 acre estate where now in the care of Historic Scotland. the National Trust for Scotland. uncover the fascinating history of the its proximity to the border with outdoor activities can be enjoyed. Getting there is a special experience There’s a secret garden to find Borders Reivers. England. Historic Scotland have an Group visits available all year by - it requires crossing the River Dee by as well as an osprey-viewing T: 013873 71373 online group sales booking system request. a small boat. platform and a bat reserve – it’s a E: [email protected] with a variety of benefits. T: 01848 331 555 T: 0131 668 8831 place where nature thrives. www.gilnockietower.com T: 0131 668 8831 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 0131 458 0204 E: [email protected] www.drumlanrigcastle.co.uk www.historicenvironment.scot/ E: traveltrade@nts www.historicenvironment.scot/ visit-a-place/travel-trade www.nts.org.uk/travel-trade visit-a-place/travel-trade Day four - Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire 1 2 3 4 5 Broughton House & Garden – Glenwhan Garden & Arboretum – Logan Botanic Garden – this lush Castle Kennedy Gardens – these Culzean Castle – owned by the located in Kirkcudbright, known as once barren moorland, Glenwhan is garden is noted for its tropical grand gardens have history, having National Trust for Scotland, this Scotland’s Artists’ Town, Broughton home to an astonishing abundance collections of Australasian tree-ferns, been laid out by the 2nd Earl of Stair breathtaking clifftop castle was House is the Edwardian home of of plant life including flora native to cabbage palms and other tender in the 1730s. See the collections of designed by Robert Adam and has Scottish painter E.A. Hornel and the Southern Hemisphere. Take in species and is often considered to be brightly coloured rare and hybrid links with President Eisenhower. now owned by the National Trust the lovely sea views across to the Scotland’s most exotic garden. species of rhododendrons and the Inside, admire the oval staircase for Scotland.