Walled Garden and Woodland Walks - Dunskey Estate, Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway

		PORTPATRICK STRANRAER WIGTOWNSHIRE, DG9 8TJ DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY, SCOTLAND
		Tel: 01776 810211

Walled Garden
& Woodland Gardens

Dunskey Walled Garden & Glasshouses

	Every Wednesday at 11.30am there is a gardener's tour with Gabby (usual entrance fee applies.)

	Visit the 'Seasons' Tea Room, open every day 10am till 5pm

	Try out the wonderful Maze!

	Season Tickets available and evening visits can be arranged on request

	Plant Sales

	Member of the Dumfries and Galloway Association of Gardens and Nurseries.

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Admission to Walled and Woodland Gardens

Adults	£3.50		Family (2 Adults/3 Children under 14)	£8.00
Children under 14	£1.00		Groups/Buses (by prior arrangement)	discounts available
OAP Concession	£3.00

The recent renovation of the Walled Garden has restored to the Estate a vitality long since forgotten. A fascinating collection of mature shrubs and plants are now well established and the original splendour of the Walled Garden is becoming evident once again. The gardens at Dunskey have a friendly atmosphere and charm all of their own. Visitors can explore the walled garden using the wide gravel paths and broad lawns to enjoy a garden full of plants both familiar and unusual. The sloping site means that there are a number of different micro- climates throughout the garden and these are reflected within the planting. The jewel in the walled garden has to be the range of 19 century glasshouses. These are used for growing Peaches, Nectarines, Grapes and exotics such as the tropical looking Passiflora antioquiensis. The developing woodland gardens lead off from the walled garden and include some lovely loch views. The woodland gardens are probably at their best in late spring and early summer when the Rhodedendrons are matched by carpets of Bluebells and other wild flowers.


History Like other contemporary gardens Dunskey was built to serve a country house. Pleasure grounds and paths radiated across the estate while the walled garden provided fruit and vegetables. And, like so many other historic gardens, Dunskey fell into disrepair. In the late 1990’s the decision was made to bring the garden back as a pleasure garden. The walled garden was ploughed up and new paths and hedges laid out. The glasshouses were renovated and brought back to life. Over the years the plant collection has been built up, and today’s visitors find it hard to believe that the rejuvenated garden is only ten years old. The maze is a new feature and is believed to be the first hedge maze planted in South West Scotland. It’s great fun for anyone with a bit of energy to run off – or visitors can simply pick a bench, relax, and listen to the birdsong.

Plants In late winter the Snowdrops lighten the short days and are followed by Primulas and Rhodedendrons in all their flamboyant colours. Summer belongs to the traditional herbaceous plants and scented Roses, whilst late summer and autumn brings the exotic flowers in the glasshouses and rich autumn tints on the trees and shrubs. Of particular interest at Dunskey is the collection of Clianthus and Sutherlandia. These southern hemisphere plants are at their very best in April and a are forming the basis for a National Collection.		The restoration of Dunskey's working green houses produced truly impressive results. Built originally by McKenzie & Moncur, these fine examples of 19th century garden architecture house a selection of exotic plants, shrubs and fruit. Dunskey is famous for its wonderful snowdrops and opens each year in February for The Snowdrop Festival in conjunction with Scotland's Gardens Scheme.

Portpatrick
Stranraer
Dumfries & Galloway

Dunskey Estate, Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway

Tel: 01776 810211
Fax: 01776 810581
Email: info@dunskey.com