Scotland: Orkney's Garden Trail
17th Jul 2026
Key Highlights
- The delightful gardens at the Castle of Mey
- Special access to private gardens in Orkney and on the mainland
- Explore the heart of Neolithic Orkney
Summary
You may be forgiven for thinking that the far north of Scotland and the Orkney Isles in particular are more about mountains and moorlands, crashing waves with booming surf and high seaside cliffs than a picture of manicured gardens. Well of course it is all about wild landscape and open seascapes, however it is also home to a collection of very determined gardeners who have created, in some cases over generations, a collection of excellent gardens, set amidst a beautiful landscape of long summer days and evenings when it hardly gets dark – a twilight that is known as the ‘simmer dim’.
We begin in Caithness and Sutherland with a visit to the Castle of Mey before crossing the Pentland Firth to Orkney. Here we follow Orkney’s Garden Trail with visits to a selection of private gardens who have kindly allowed us special access. Of course, we could not visit Orkney without calling in at some of its archaeological and historical wonders, such as the standing stones at Stenness and Brodgar, all the while enjoying those endless Orcadian summer days.
What's included
- Two nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at Mackay’s Hotel, Wick and three nights’ dinner bed and breakfast at the Orkney Hotel, Kirkwall.
- Entry to all gardens as stated in the itinerary
- Guided tours of Orkney, including the Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, the Italian Chapel and the archaeological sites at Skara Brae and Maeshowe
- Return coach and ferry travel
- Services of Sue Pomeroy as tour manager and guide
Meet your tour manager
Sue Pomeroy
Having studied horticulture in places ranging from New Zealand to Chile, Sue now lives in the north-west Highlands. Her personal garden is open to the public and it has featured in Country Life and Gardeners’ World. Previously, she worked at Inverewe Garden for 14 years as a propagator.
Day by Day Itinerary
We depart from our designated pick-up points and head north, stopping en route for refreshments (not included). We will continue to our first garden just over the Kessock Bridge, Old Allangrange, a lovely old property with surrounding garden set in the heart of the Black Isle. Here we have some time to explore ornamental garden surrounding the house and a three acre productive garden with two Keder greenhouses. The ornamental garden has different areas with distinctive characters. There is a parterre in front of the house with informal planting, a lower garden, an ornamental propagation garden, a mound and orchard.
Following our visit, we will continue north by the scenic coastal road to our comfortable hotel.
Meals Included:Dinner
Departure Routes
| Location | Pickup Time | Dropoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow - Bus stop on North Hanover Street, opposite Queens Street Station | 07:15 | 21:45 |
| Edinburgh - Outside Reception at the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow Road | 08:30 | 20:30 |
| Dunfermline - Halbeath Park & Ride, Jct 3, M90 | 09:00 | 20:00 |
| Kinross - Moto Services on M90 | 09:15 | 19:45 |
| Perth - Broxden Park & Ride, A93 | 09:30 | 19:30 |
| Inverness - Outside Jury's Inn, Milburn Road | 12:00 | 16:30 |
** Please note that all timings are approximate and subject to change. Final timings and pick-up points will be confirmed with your joining instructions approximately 10 days prior to departure. **
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