| Gt Escapes: Scottish Borders 2 |
| Gorgeous gardens |
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The Scottish Borders region has many award–winning gardens. Not all of them are large, formal, or extravagant affairs but they are all beautifully cared for and very
colourful – just like the region itself. Entry to many of the gardens, established with the public in mind, is free. So if you’re green-fingered, or just want to enjoy a quiet or colourful spot, this trip is for you.
1. Kelso War Memorial Gardens
Kelso’s War Memorial gardens have previously won the Best Kept War Memorial competition, as well as ‘Beautiful Scotland in Bloom’, and ‘Britain in Bloom’ contests. The gardens were once part of Kelso’s ancient Tironseian Abbey (founded in 1128) but in 1921 they were donated, by the Duke of Roxburghe, for use as a war memorial.
2. Mellerstain House, Gordon
Mellerstain House’s gardens were designed in 1909 by Sir Reginald Blomfield, although they’re part of a much older garden started by William Adam in 1725. The garden’s design takes your eye down to the lake and onto the Cheviot Hills. In the middle distance, you’ll see Hundy Mundy, a folly built with stones taken by Adam from a nearby Pictish tower, and there’s a beautiful, thatched, cottage with its own tiny topiary garden hidden in the grounds at the rear of the house. Mellerstain, started in 1725 by William Adam and finished by his son, Robert, is regarded
as one of Scotland’s finest Georgian houses, and
contains works by Gainsborough and Van Dyck.
3. Melrose Harmony Garden
Harmony Gardens is a National Trust for Scotland site. The herbaceous and mixed borders harmonise
beautifully. There is a fruit and vegetable area, too, and a bright display of spring bulbs. The immaculately tended lawns are serene, as are the super views of Melrose Abbey and the Eildon Hills.
4. Priorwood Garden and Flower Shop
Priorwood Garden, overlooked by the ruins of the town’s beautiful abbey, is unique in that it specialises in plants for drying. It also produces a variety of dried-flower arrangements, which are put on sale in the shop. And you should go in, if only to enjoy the delightful smells which pervade the atmosphere.
5. Old Gala House
In the grounds of the Old Gala House, whose history dates back 500 years, are some very fine gardens where a lot of work has gone into re-establishing the wooded area and the original fountains. Early in the year the grounds come alive with colour from the spring bulbs and rhododendrons.
Inside the house, various exhibitions include one on Scottish sculptor Thomas Clapperton, and others about the Borders region heritage.
6. Bank Street Gardens
These beautifully kept gardens were given to the town of Galashiels just after WWII. They are planted twice a year, with colourful displays laid out in
the designs of Alfred T Harrison, Edinburgh’s
superintendent of parks.
7. Wilton Lodge Park
Wilton Lodge has one of the most picturesque town parks in Scotland, as it sits on the wooded banks of the River Teviot. You can walk through the woods, along the river, or see the formal and walled gardens. The Lodge’s 107-acre park is famous for its flowering trees, narcissi, and daffodils in spring, and for the golds and ochres of its trees in autumn. Like many Borders gardens, it also boasts the town war memorial.
8. Walled Gardens
Hawick’s Walled Gardens have picked up winners’ medals 12 times between 1987–2000 in various
competitions, and was once winner of the Britain in Bloom competition. The gardens feature heathers, herbacious borders and annuals.
9. Mary Queen of Scots' House Gardens
As well as glorious floral displays, the gardens of Mary Queen of Scots’ house include some of the original fruit trees, planted to supply London at the start of the 19th century. Some pear trees have been grafted and planted in the gardens to ensure that the stock continues into the 21st century.
Mary Queen of Scots’ house itself is worth a visit as it holds a detailed exhibition explaining Mary’s life. It includes, among other things, a shoe said to have belonged to the queen, and a lock of her fine auburn hair which still clearly shows its fiery colour 415 years after her death.
10. Monteviot House Gardens
With stunning views over the River Teviot and the Border hills, this peaceful garden offers colour and tranquility throughout the year. It’s clear that the gardeners here have worked immensely hard to plan and execute such a varied set of gardens, so they really are worth exploring in some detail. Features include a herb garden, a walled rose garden, and a river garden with herbaceous shrub borders. There’s also an arboretum and the Water Garden of Islands, all linked by bridges.
11. Teviot water gardens, Kelso
We return to Kelso for Teviot Water Gardens with its bamboo walks, wild-flowers and, of course, its water garden which tumbles down to the River Teviot over a very pretty series of terraces. The garden walk begins at the bird-hide, then goes through garden and wildflower meadows where you can spot native species such as teasels, campions and cranesbills. There’s also a large water-garden centre which stocks pond liners, urns, poolside furniture, fish food and cold-water fish.
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Distance 65 miles
Time 8 hours
Start/finish Springwood Caravan Park, Kelso
Tourist information
Scottish Borders Visitor Information Service
Tel 0870 608 0404
Refreshments
The Rowan Tree,
Bank Street, Melrose
Tel 01896 758064
Simple and wholesome food
at this pleasant little stop in
the town centre
Attractions
Mellerstain House, Gordon
Tel 01573 410225
Harmony Gardens, Melrose
Tel 01721 722502
Priorwood Garden and
Dried Flower Shop, Melrose
Tel 01896 822493
Bank Street Gardens,
Galashiels
Tel 01896 662734
Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick
Tel 01896 662734
Walled Gardens, Hawick
Tel 01896 662734
Mary Queen of Scots House Gardens, Jedburgh
Tel 01986 662734
Monteviot House Gardens, Jedburgh
Tel 01835 830380
Teviot Water Gardens
Tel 01835 850253
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