Now the festive period is over it’s time to get out and about in the fresh air and there’s no better place than Dumfries and Galloway. From the start of February until around the 18th March you can visit over 50 gardens around Scotland to see the snowdrop festival.
Snowdrops are very versatile little flowers and can grow almost anywhere and there are around 300 different varieties too!
In Dumfries and Galloway there are lots of gardens opening their doors from early February in celebration of the snowdrop. In the rhins, where Kirklauchline Cottage is, there is Dunskey, Castle Kennedy and Logan Botanic Gardens to visit.
Dunskey Gardens, near Portpatrick – is only a short drive from the cottage. It has a lovely tea room with home made cakes, quiches and soup together with a little shop selling plants (including different species of snowdrop), cards, books and local jams and pickles. There is the Dunskey maze for the younger ones, which my young neice really enjoyed when she came to stay. The snowdrop festival is open at Dunskey gardens two weekends during February – 18th & 19th, 25th & 26th. It costs £3.60 for adults and 50p for under 14′s and is open from 10am until 4pm.
Castle Kennedy Gardens, near Stranraer (you pass it on the A75 on the outskirts of Starnraer when travelling to the Rhins) is open every Sunday from 1st February until 18th March, 10am – 5pm and admission is £5 per adult. These are beautiful gardens with 2 natural lochs, a castle and 75 acres of gardens to explore. Once you have explored and you are ready for refreshment there’s a lovely tea room selling hot and cold drinks and snacks. Dogs are allowed in these gardens but on a lead.
Logan Botanic Garden, Port Logan, is Scotlands most exotic Garden – I have to agree it is breath taking! I went for the first time last summer with my friend and it is stunning. Palm Trees galore, rhododendrons and lots more – I can highly recommend a visit. They open for the snowdrop festival Sundays 10am – 4pm, admission is £5.50 for adults, £5 concession and £1 for children. Dogs are not admitted at these gardens. The Potting Shed Bistro has lovely soup, sandwiches, cakes and hot and cold drinks. There are visitors toilets and baby changing facilities too.
Further afield, but within very easy reach is the Galloway Forest – here you can visit any day from sunrise to sunset and see the snowdrops in the woods. Whilst you are there The Otter pool, wild goat park and the red Deer range is a must. A real good day out for all. We take a picnic with us and sit near the otter pool to see if we can spot any – no luck so far!
I hope you enjoyed this blog about the snowdrops, the gardens are a great passion of mine and I love to visit them when I can.
At Kirklauchline cottage we have availability for 7 nights or short breaks (minimum 3 nights) during February and March for any one who wants to catch the snowdrop festival.
Many thanks for reading my blog, Alison x