A walk round the garden

The car park just inside the front gates is situated at the start of the garden visit, across the drive an information board shows a plan of the garden with sheets for the visitor to use while going round the garden. Many paths offer various options, the following is aimed at giving an idea of the scope of the garden.

Nearby a Cornus kousa is covered with flowers that turn from lime green to white and finally are tinged with pink as the summer progresses, Rhododendrons, Acers, a red leafed Hazel and various Ferns line the burn (stream).

To the left of the drive paths through the ‘wild garden’ lead you past the yellow corner, two newly planted areas are filled with flowering shrubs and a variety of bulbs, with a back drop of some mature trees and established Embothrium, Prunus, Hoheria, Philadelphus and Roses. At the far end of the garden is a group of the wild yellow Azalea, Rhododendron lutea before going past a large Monkey Puzzle tree and down into the wild flower meadow with a selection of Sorbus trees.

Crossing the drive an enormous Rose ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ scrambles up a Yew tree, daffodils cover the open ground in April and the autumn colours of the Cercidiphyllum and Disanthus are spectacular.

From here a short shrub lined walk takes you to the front garden with its herbaceous borders, rockery and roses, surrounding a large lawn with mature trees and shrub borders. The views are spectacular and there is plenty to see in every season.

At the far corner of the front garden is a door set in the wall leading to the ruins of the old chapel and graveyard. From there you can return via the front garden, or walk through the back yard (past the WC), and down the drive to the car park.