Gardens of South West Scotland

This morning we will meet our garden guide, Iain MacDonald and our coach at The Alex Hotel, Fenian Street, for our transfer to Belfast (comfort stop included en route) for our ferry sailing to Cairnryan.

On arrival, we visit our first garden, Castle Kennedy, this picturesque ruin is situated on a peninsula and, thanks to the Gulf Stream has a unique microclimate. It is surrounded by a richly planted walled garden, which in turn is encircled by formal gardens. Transfer to Stranraer to our beautifully located hotel.

We will dine together as a group each evening.

After breakfast we depart for a visit to the private garden of Tessa & Bill Knott – Glenwhan - a magical 12 acre garden with breathtaking views over Luce Bay. Vast collections of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are arranged around a series of lakes and bog gardens. 

A contrast in the afternoon, when we visit Culzean Castle, perched on the Ayrshire cliffs. It was designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century and is filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived here.; a gothic house in a splendid cliff top location. Free time for lunch before exploring the 40 acres of gardens which feature an orangery, pagoda, fountains and walled garden and secret follies.

Depart this morning for our visit to Threave Gardens, a National Trust of Scotland garden which is used as a school of horticulture and has extensive plantings of specimen tress, shrubs and herbaceous borders. Then a visit to Elizabeth MacGregor’s small, award-winning nursery and garden on the outskirts of Kirkcudbright selling classic cottage garden plants In addition to the sales area, the nursery also boasts a half-acre formal garden. Thanks to its high curved walls, the garden provides a showcase for plants in their mature form. At its best from mid-summer, the garden's scents and colours are truly memorable. Stocks beds also allow the plants to propagate, giving rise to promising new trails of shrubbery

Free time for lunch and to explore Kirkcudbright, this delightful, coastal fishing village, known as ‘The Artist’s Town”. Then visit Broughton House home of the artist, E.A. Hornel, one of the Glasgow Boy painters, who created this delightful 1.5 acre garden in the early 20th century and fused old world cottage charm with fantasy Japanese elements

This morning check out and settle any room charges you may have incurred.

Visit to the renowned Logan Botanic Gardens, probably the most exotic garden in Scotland.  Caressed by the Gulf Stream, it specialises in southern hemisphere plants, with majestic tree ferns adding scale and structure to the luxuriantly planted walled garden with its magnificent herbaceous borders. Free time for lunch in their lovely cafe.

Transfer to Cairnryan for our afternoon ferry to Larne, travel on to Dublin arriving at The Alex in the early evening.