The Prime of Scottish gardens: Lothian and the Borderlands, including a privileged stay at Dumfries House

5 days | £3550per person with flights | 14 - 18 June 2027

Lothian and the Borderlands, including a privileged stay at Dumfries House

Historically, Lothian is the province encompassing most of what is now south-eastern Scotland, stretching from the Firth of Forth to the Borders. This tour includes an array of contrasting gardens of the highest calibre in a highly refined and cultured area. Scotland and the North have a strong tradition of sending forth landscape artists with the greatest integrity and awareness of their time and setting. We include a visit to Little Sparta to see the work of the late Ian Hamilton Finlay and at Jupiter Artland we find an incredible private sculpture collection with work by, among others, Antony Gormley, Andy Goldsworthy and Anish Kapoor. Fundamentally, this is a tour of extremely good gardening. Accommodated at the royal Dumfries House Lodge for one night and then three nights at Ednam House Hotel. Sitting on the banks of the River Tweed, enveloped by three acres of enchanting gardens, this spacious, stately mansion dates to 1761. With a home-from-home atmosphere it is the ideal base to visit the gardens of the Borders.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

This tour starts in London for included flights to Edinburgh Airport. We travel to Dumfries House, one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes saved in 2007 by the intervention of His Royal Highness, King Charles III. The house combines the neoclassical architecture of Robert Adam with the furniture of Thomas Chippendale and leading 18^th-century Scottish cabinet makers. In addition, the Queen Elizabeth walled garden is the flagship project of the estate restoration. Following lunch and a visit to the gardens and house we check in at the Dumfries House Lodge and dine this evening in the privacy of the Dumfries House Library.

Day 2

Driving through the Pentland Hills we visit Little Sparta, made by artist/poet Ian Hamilton Finlay and his wife Sue: now a world-famous ‘Arcadian’ garden housing more than 275 works of art by its creator. We lunch at a local inn before continuing to a special private garden. We travel on Ednam House Hotel with time to settle in before dining together this evening. This is our base for the following three nights.

Day 3

Venturing into the Cheviot Hills we find the remote Corbet Tower with its sloping, south-facing walled garden, an abundance of productivity that includes flowers for cutting and – indeed a rare find – twelve different varieties of rhubarb. Then we accept the invitation to lunch from Mrs Rose Foyle of Carolside. This Georgian house (with Regency wings) overlooks the Leader Water, with gardens running up behind the house and through the oval walled garden. Rose is her name and roses are her passion with more than two hundred varieties grown. The estate at Floors Castle is vast, hence limiting our visit to a part of the walled garden to see the richly-woven and vibrant herbaceous borders and the new perennial garden that has been initiated by the Duchess of Roxburghe and her head gardener.

Day 4

We start the day with the garden of Broadwoodside, planted around a farmhouse rescued from dereliction. Two courtyards (a ‘his’ and ‘hers’) are encircled by old farm buildings around which the garden entwines. There is much detail and skill here but the overall impression is of a rare lightness of touch and a freshness as if the garden had just been painted on canvas. Lunch is included at the Edwin Lutyens designed Greywalls Hotel followed by a walk around the intricate, pretty gardens. Sir Charles and Lady Fraser have been gardening at Shepherd House for over sixty years. Ann Fraser is a botanical illustrator who grows the plants that inspire her work, particularly tulips and snowdrops. Sir Charles has provided the structure to the garden, the ‘celebrated’ compost heaps and much flamboyancy, including a giant topiary rabbit. This one-acre garden is full of detail and surprises with much to delight.

Day 5

We start at Binny Plants at Ecclesmachen, whose owner, former record dealer Billy Carruthers, now indulges a passion for peonies and other desirable perennials. We continue to Jupiter Artland for a visit that includes a delicious lunch before discovering the artworks in the estate woodlands that include works by Charles Jencks, Andy Goldsworthy and Antony Gormley. We finish off with a privileged visit to the private gardens of Bonnington House designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd. Return to Edinburgh Airport for our flight back to London.

The Lodge at Dumfries House

The Lodge at Dumfries House offers an elegant and characterful retreat within one of Scotland’s most treasured historic estates. Originally built in the 18th century and sensitively restored, the Lodge combines traditional country-house charm with modern comfort, offering welcoming guest rooms, cosy living spaces and thoughtful amenities. Dumfries House itself was saved for the nation in 2007 by the then Prince of Wales and is now the headquarters of The King's Foundation, a charity founded by King Charles III that supports education, heritage, sustainable communities and opportunities for people of all ages. With its peaceful setting, warm hospitality and access to 2,000 acres of gardens, the Lodge provides a comfortable and distinctive base from which to experience the spirit of Dumfries House.

Ednam House Hotel

Ednam House Hotel, is a handsome Georgian mansion on the banks of the River Tweed in the heart of Kelso, combining the convenience of a town-centre location with the tranquillity of three acres of riverside gardens. Built in 1761, the house retains much of its original character, with ornate plasterwork, carved doors, marble fireplaces and fine period details that reflect the craftsmanship of the late 18th century. Today, its individually styled bedrooms offer a comfortable blend of traditional character and modern amenities.

With Flights: £3550

Join Direct: £3400

Single Supp: £290

Deposit: £350

Departure Dates:

14 - 18 June 2027

Duration:

4 nights / 5 days

Your Holiday Includes:

Return flights (Economy class) from London to Edinburgh
One night's bed and breakfast at The Lodge at Dumfries House
Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Ednam House Hotel
Private coach transfers and excursions
Four evening meals and five lunches
Guided visits to the sites listed in the programme
Services of the tour host and a tour leader
Detailed programme and garden notes
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff

Tour Host & Leader

Neil Porteous

With an exceptional knowledge of plants, Neil has explored numerous species in their natural habitats, traveling to China, North and South Africa, Australia, and the Himalayas. His passion for history and love for researching the stories behind historic gardens led to an MA in Garden History and a BSc. Hons in Landscape Management & Horticulture. Neil frequently appears on local radio, sharing his expertise and insights. Offering over a dozen different talks and tours, he relishes public speaking and garden guiding, enjoying the opportunity to meet and learn from other gardeners. Currently, Neil works as an independent garden consultant, advising private clients, Mount Stewart in Co. Down, and the Office of Public Works at Annes Grove and Doneraile Court in Co. Cork. Additionally, he is researching the histories of the gardens at Mount Stewart and Brook Hall in Co. Londonderry.

Sophie Piebenga

Born in The Netherlands and based in the Cotswolds, our expert Sophie Piebenga has lived most of her life in the UK. She trained as a gardener with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, Sophie developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. Sophie has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation, and, for the last 30+ years, has regularly led Boxwood tours around the UK and to Ireland, France, Spain, Greece and The Netherlands.

Travel Information
The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.

Please note that Boxwood Tours use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.