Castle Kennedy Gardens

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Castle Kennedy Gardens An elaborate series of terraces and land sculptures can be found throughout the Gardens forming stunning patterns of curves and banks.

Visitor attraction in Scotland's South West, with 75 acres of stunning gardens, romantic ruins, holiday cottages & Lochinch Castle
🌟Home of the Midnight Garden Trail this Halloween 🌟 Family home to the 14th Earl and Countess of Stair, the Gardens were the inspiration of the 2nd Earl of Stair in the 1730s and are famous for colourful displays of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Embothriums, many rare and exotic plants, 21 Champion Trees and a number of spectacular avenues and the romantic ruins of 16th Century Castle Kennedy. Despite their contemporary look and feel, these were constructed in the 1730s using men with carts and horse-drawn equipment to move and mould the landscape. The stunning Avenues in the Gardens were originally planted with specimen seeds given by famous botanical explorer Joseph Ho**er. Each Avenue was planted with a single type of tree, many of which can still be seen today. These include the 150-year-old Monkey Puzzle Avenue, the Thuja Avenue and the Dettingen Avenue which is lined with evergreen oaks. The beautiful two-acre Circular Pond filled with rare Victorian water lilies is also a highlight.

As another wonderful season comes to an end, we'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has visited us this year. ...
06/11/2026

As another wonderful season comes to an end, we'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has visited us this year. It's been a pleasure welcoming so many of you to the gardens and we hope you've enjoyed exploring them as much as we've enjoyed sharing them with you.

Castle Kennedy Gardens are now closed. Over the winter months, our gardening team will be busy behind the scenes, clearing fallen trees and branches following the recent storms and carrying out annual maintenance. We're getting everything ready for the new season and can't wait to welcome you back when the gardens reopen on the 1st of April 2027, just in time to enjoy all the lovely colours of spring.

Thank you again for your support, and we hope to see you in April!

We are so sad to hear of the death of Richard Baines, Curator of Logan Botanic Garden, during Storm Boelo last weekend.R...
29/10/2026

We are so sad to hear of the death of Richard Baines, Curator of Logan Botanic Garden, during Storm Boelo last weekend.

Richard was a true plantsman, admired across the horticultural world, but to us here in Galloway he was also a wonderful friend and neighbour. He was always generous with his time and knowledge, always happy to share advice, and his enthusiasm for plants was infectious. We will treasure the plants he recently gave to our gardens, which will be a lasting reminder of his kindness.

He did so much to put the gardens of this corner of Scotland on the map, and he will be hugely missed by all of us.
Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, his friends and everyone at Logan and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 🌿

Due to storm damage, the Gardens will unfortunately remain closed tomorrow, Thursday 29th October.But we have some good ...
28/10/2026

Due to storm damage, the Gardens will unfortunately remain closed tomorrow, Thursday 29th October.
But we have some good news! We're delighted to confirm that we'll be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for one final weekend of Halloween fun! 🎃

Our Midnight Garden Trail will be ready for explorers to solve the spooky clues and the Tearoom will be serving plenty of delicious food and sweet treats to enjoy after a walk around the Gardens.
As we close for the season after Sunday, this is your last chance to enjoy the Gardens before we reopen in spring.

We'd love to see you for one final autumn adventure!

There's so much more to see at Castle Kennedy Gardens than the beautiful autumn colours. The gardens are home to a wonde...
27/10/2026

There's so much more to see at Castle Kennedy Gardens than the beautiful autumn colours. The gardens are home to a wonderful variety of wildlife and autumn is the perfect time to get outdoors and appreciate the natural world around us and fresh air.

From red squirrels and roe deer to otters and buzzards, there's plenty of wildlife to discover across the estate. Of course, you never quite know what you might see and that's part of the enjoyment of spending time in nature. Wrap up warm, take a walk through the Gardens and keep your eyes peeled along the way.

What wildlife will you spot on your next visit?

Our gardens are now closed until Thursday 29th October due to fallen trees. Apologies for any inconvenience.
26/10/2026

Our gardens are now closed until Thursday 29th October due to fallen trees. Apologies for any inconvenience.

We're delighted to see our beautiful corner of Scotland recognised by National Geographic as one of its Best of the Worl...
26/10/2026

We're delighted to see our beautiful corner of Scotland recognised by National Geographic as one of its Best of the World destinations for 2027. Of course it came as no surprise to us!

With its breath taking landscapes, rich history, beautiful coastline and so many special places to explore, it's a region we're incredibly proud to call home. At Castle Kennedy Gardens, we get to enjoy a little of that magic every day. From our historic castle ruins and magnificent trees to the beautiful views across the lochs, there's so much to discover.

It's fantastic to see Dumfries and Galloway getting the recognition it deserves. We hope it inspires even more people to come and experience this wonderful part of Scotland for themselves.

Read the National Geographic feature through the link in the comments.

25/10/2026
Important Visitor Update.Due to Storm Austen and high winds forecast for this weekend, Castle Kennedy Gardens will be cl...
23/10/2026

Important Visitor Update.

Due to Storm Austen and high winds forecast for this weekend, Castle Kennedy Gardens will be closed from 2pm on Friday 23rd October through to Monday 26th October to ensure the safety of our visitors and team.
We're sorry for any disappointment this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

We hope to welcome you back to the Gardens soon.

22/10/2026

Looking for something to do with the family this half term? Come and join us at Castle Kennedy Gardens!

Our Halloween trail is well underway, and it's been lovely to see so many young explorers making their way around the Gardens solving clues. There's still plenty of spooky fun to be had this half term. Bring the whole family along to follow the trail and uncover the secret word as you explore Castle Kennedy Gardens.

And for your smallest explorers who may not be ready for spooky adventures just yet, we have something for them too. Join us in the Walled Garden for an I Spy trail where they can discover characters such as Wynda the Witch and her many friends. Can you find them all?

Once you've finished your adventure, why not stop by the Tearoom for a well-earned treat? There's something for everyone to enjoy, from the beautiful autumn scenery to the Halloween fun (and of course, a slice of cake!).

Autumn walks are even better with your four legged friend. With the arrival of cooler days and beautiful autumn colours,...
21/10/2026

Autumn walks are even better with your four legged friend. With the arrival of cooler days and beautiful autumn colours, Castle Kennedy Gardens is a wonderful place for a dog walk at this time of year.🐾

There's so much to see as you make you way down winding paths with crunchy leaves underfoot.
So wrap up warm, grab the lead and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful grounds with your furry friend.

It's great to see everyone enjoying the gardens, so be sure to tag us in your photos of your dog.
We'd love to see your autumn adventures!

Address

Castle Kennedy Gardens
Stranraer
DG98SJ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441776702024

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