Kelburn Castle and Country Centre will unveil its unique and personal gardens to the public for special guided tours on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September and Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September from 2.30pm onwards.
Tours around the gardens, some of which have been kept private and unseen by the public until now, will be led by Head Gardener Karl Brownlee. Karl has worked on the gardens for over 40 years. He came to Kelburn at the youthful age of 17 and since then has tended 20 acres of land almost entirely by himself. His dedication has helped to turn the gardens at Kelburn into some of the most interesting in Scotland.
Kelburns gardens include the New Zealand Garden, the Kelburn Forecourt and the areas adjacent to the Castle. Also within the tour are some of Kelburns better known features such as the walled garden, the Plaisance (French for a pleasant place), the childrens garden and areas surrounding the romantic glen. The relative warmth of the gulf stream has made it possible to grow many sub tropical plants and shrubs in the gardens. The blossoms in particular provide a wealth of bright colour to the neat green landscapes.
The gardens are also home to a number of famous features including a pair of yew trees which are over 1,000 years old. The trees have been recognised by the Forestry Commission as amongst Scotlands 100 most important heritage trees. Particularly unique is the weeping larch which winds all the way from the tennis court to the Plaisance. The tree is thought to be 180 years old and twists and turns for a quarter of an acre. The tallest tree in the gardens is the Monterey Pine which is around 150 years old and is thought to be the oldest of its kind in Scotland.
The unusual obelisk sundial which is located to the west of the Castle is another unique feature of the gardens. This was erected in 1707 by the 1st Earl and has recently been renovated. This particular type of sundial is incredibly rare in Scotland and has been featured in a Japanese book on sundials of the world.
In addition to this special walk, Kelburns main attractions including the falconry centre, pottery workshop and horse riding will all be open as usual.
For more information on Kelburn Castle and Country Centre call the visitors centre on 01475 568685
