Winton Gardens

Estate management is really just gardening on a grand scale. It gets more intimate for the formal areas around Winton Castle where an experienced team provides colour and year-round interest.

In the spring when the ground is covered in wild daffodils, there is an annual open day in aid of Scotland’s Garden Scheme. Winton’s Family Spring Open Day is usually in the first half of April, so please ensure you come along to see the gardens.

Royal Visit to Winton Castle

In recognition for being the first garden to open under Scotland’s Gardens, Winton was selected to host their 85th birthday celebrations. Winton was there at the start and HRH , the Duchess of Rothesay, their patron, planted a mulberry tree to mark the event.

Watch the video above: Celebrating 85 years of Scotland’s Gardens with the charity’s President, The Duchess of Rothesay.

Winton is a Garden for All Seasons

The gardens’ history goes back to the 17th century. The ancient original walls now covered with a variety of climbers, roses and old espaliered fruit trees. These form a fine backdrop to the generously planted mixed borders.

Many tender perennials and shrubs thrive in the micro-climate and provide a fine display from summer and particularly into the late autumn

A central feature of a knot garden is enclosed by two fine wisteria arches. Colourful annual borders line a central path to a gate towards the castle.

Below the castle two south facing terraces lead down to Sir David’s Loch, a wild area and haven for wildlife. Against the lower buttressed walls Cannas, tender Salvias, Melianthus and Mediterranean sub-shrubs flourish and even manage to see through the winters here.

On the upper terrace a collection of old roses flank vibrant plantings of Dahlias for a late summer display, best seen from the castle. Well placed benches make this a fine place to sit on a summer evening.

A terrace on the west evokes west coast gardens, reflected again in the wider plantings in the nearby woodlands. Amongst the trees, there is a collection of maples, camellias, witch hazels, dogwoods, rhododendrons and eucryphias are establishing well. In late winter aconites, snowdrops and crocus carpet the woodlands. Other shrubs and trees will soon add colour and interest throughout the year.

Fine old trees line the network of paths linking the Winton Walks throughout the wider estate and out to Pencaitland.