Private Gardens of Caithness and Sutherland

1 departure

26 June 2023

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4 days

From £625 ~~£675~~

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Summary

The spectacular seascapes and wild lands of Caithness and Sutherland, right at the very top of Britain, are home to a surprising number of stunning gardens - from formal gardens that surround grand castles with heaving and colourful herbaceous borders, to small and homely gardens tucked away in neat little villages.

Travelling amongst the jagged headlands and shining white sands on the Northern coast, our visits include two gardens both protected from the wind by high walls - Bighouse Lodge by Melvich and The House of Tongue in a spectacular setting on the Kyle of Tongue. We could not go to Caithness without including a visit to The Castle of Mey, the former summer retreat of the late Queen Mother, and we also tour the fine gardens that surround Dunbeath Castle. Further visits include the private gardens of The Auld Post Office and The Lookout, the semi-formal garden that surrounds a beautiful 17th century house at Old Allangrange and Inverness Botanic Garden which provides a sub-tropical oasis in the heart of the Highlands.

No Single Room Supplement

NC500: Please note that this itinerary features part of the North Coast 500, the highly scenic coastal route which begins and ends in Inverness.

Tour highlights:

The late Queen Mother’s favourite rose gardens at the Castle of Mey
Two private gardens
Spectacular views on the North Coast 500 route
Exotic plants and trees in the Highland capital
No Single Room Supplement

Departure Routes

Location	Depart	Return
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 Leonardo Hotel, 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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Your itinerary

Day 1 -

We depart from our designated pick-up points and travel north to Old Allangrange at Munlochy, just north of Inverness. A beautiful 17th century lime washed house is the backdrop to a semi-formal garden with many fine old trees including an ancient stand of yews. The gardeners have used sculpted hedges to play with perspective. There is an icehouse, vegetable garden, a mound, orchard and two large polytunnels where vegetables are grown bio-dynamically.

Following our visit, we will continue north by the scenic coastal road to Thurso and our accommodation.

Hotel	Station Hotel, Thurso
Meals included	Dinner

Day 2 -

Today we start at Dunbeath Castle, home to one of the finest ornamental walled gardens in Scotland. The extensive gardens feature mature and new plantings, with a landscaped lake, water and bog gardens, a formal garden, rhododendrons and a woodland walk.

After lunch we will visit the private garden Langwell, a beautiful old walled garden with spectacular borders situated in the secluded Strath.

Hotel	Station Hotel, Thurso
Meals included	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 -

After breakfast we will travel along the coast, past the pioneering nuclear power station at Douneray, to Bighouse Lodge, situated at the mouth of the River Halladale. The two acre, recently restored, walled garden, originally laid out in 1715, consists of a central axis leading to a charming bothy with lawn, herbaceous borders, a sunken garden and four separate conceptual gardens behind the hedgerows. Each garden contains a sculpture to reflect the aspects of the Bighouse Estate, namely the River, the Forest, the Strath and the Hill.

This afternoon we will visit The Castle of Mey the former holiday home of the late Queen Mother. Originally Barrogill Castle it was first seen by the late Queen Mother in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband King George VI. Falling for its ruined, isolated charm she declared she would save the castle from ruin. Having acquired the most northerly castle on the British mainland, she renovated and lovingly restored it and for over half a century she spent her summers here and created the beautiful gardens you see today.

Hotel	Station Hotel, Thurso
Meals included	Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4 -

This morning after breakfast we head south to the highland capital, Inverness. Here we have a visit to the historic Culloden House Hotel once used by Bonnie Prince Charlie as his lodging and battle headquarters prior to that fateful battle on Culloden Moor. Here we find a delightful four-acre walled garden that was built in the 18^th century by the Forbes family to provide food and flowers for the estate. More recently, Michael Innes, the former Gardens Advisor for the National Trust of Scotland was commissioned to restore the gardens and now they make for a special visit offering enjoyment from the spring flowering bulbs through to autumn orchard fruits. After our visit we enjoy afternoon tea before heading back to our original pick-up points.