JOURNAL
A Grand Day Out
Dawyck Botanic Garden
‘One of Scotland’s finest tree collections’
Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, near Peebles, EH45 9JU
Drive time from Cringletie - 9 miles and 20 minutes
www.rbge.org.uk/visit/dawyck-botanic-garden/
Dawyck Botanic Garden at Stobo is a magnificent five-star attraction renowned for its seasonal displays of snowdrops, bluebells, rhododendrons, azaleas, blue poppies and spectacular autumn colour.
Dawyck’s 65 acres enjoys an almost continental climate comprising warm dry summers followed by cold, snowy winters. Plants from the mountainous regions of Europe, China, Nepal, Japan and North America thrive here. Dawyck offers woodland and burnside walks, themed tree trails and visitors can follow the adventures of plant explorers such as David Douglas, after whom the Douglas fir is named.
Highlights throughout the year include the historic Azalea Terrace, which is a blaze of colour when azaleas bloom in May and June. The meconopsis, a Himalayan native, thrives in Dawyck’s conditions and a carpet of blue flowers appears under the tree canopy in early June. The Heron Wood Reserve is the world’s first reserve for mosses, liverworts, lichens and fungi. Whilst delicate Snowdrops cover the banks of the Scrape Burn in February.
Many of the plants at Dawyck are the first examples collected and brought to Scotland. The Garden has now become a sanctuary for endangered plants, a collection not only for conservation and study, but, as originally intended, a place of beauty to be enjoyed.
After exploring one of Scotland’s finest tree collections, don’t miss a visit to Dawyck’s Café, this beautiful café is part of Dawyck’s award winning visitor centre and offers stunning views of the gardens and has indoor and outdoor seating. There is also a beautiful selection of botanical inspired gifts including exclusively designed homeware, locally sourced foodstuffs, books, gardening gifts and plants.
