Leith Hall Garden and Estate

Book Online or send payment by cheque made payable to ‘The Professional Gardeners’ Guild’ to Colin Carmichael, Selma, Old Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2DH.

PGG visit to Leith Hall Garden and Estate

Built in the 1650 on the site of an earlier castle, Leith Hall is a beautifully proportioned Scottish tower house in the heart of Aberdeenshire. The walled garden is a short walk from the main house on a south-facing slope. Entering from the gate you will be led up extensive borders filled with colour and scent and what is claimed to be Scotland’s oldest Nepeta border, leading to a lawn with a small pond. At the top of the garden is an unusual Chinese Moon gate built in 1910, where visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Aberdeenshire and the surrounding hills.

The garden is considered to be one of the National Trust for Scotland’s hidden gems and is their highest altitude garden at 186m above sea level. You will also find an orchard and productive kitchen garden with heritage varieties. The original garden was around the house and the walled garden was built in the early 1800s to provide fruit and vegetables.

The famous rock garden was rebuilt in 2013 to the original design and has recently undergone major re-planting to recreate the spirit of its past. It features crevice plants, alpines and shrubs including Aubretia, Lithodora and Erysimum.

Programme

10.00-10.30 am. Meet at the café, for tea, coffee and baked goods.
10.30am. Guided tour with the Head Gardener, Sarah Ramsay.
1.00pm. Lunch in the café (buy your own) or bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds.
2.00-3.30pm. Managing Woodlands walk and talk with PGG member, Chris Wardle, Garden and Designed Landscape Manager, Aberdeenshire and Angus, National Trust for Scotland. He’ll be looking at the some of the issues NTS have with these woodlands and the fascinating conundrum of how to manage them. There are 35 ha (87.57 acres) of woodland, at Leith Hall.

Dogs on leads are welcome on the estate but not in the walled garden. Free parking for NTS members otherwise it is pay & display. Please note, the garden is on quite a steep slope and may not be accessible to those with mobility issues.

Address

Leith Hall, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire AB54 4NQ.

Cost

£12.00 per person.

Booking

Book Online or send payment by cheque made payable to ‘The Professional Gardeners’ Guild’ to Colin Carmichael, Selma, Old Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2DH.