If you ever find yourself near Stranraer in Scotland, as we did earlier in the summer, you must pay a visit to Castle Kennedy and its fabulous gardens.
The castle itself is now a romantic ruin but the gardens, which were conceived in the 1730s by the 2nd Earl of Stair, are huge and stunningly beautiful with two lochs as their glorious backdrop.
The gardens now consist of over 75 acres of avenues and terraces and include the two acre (!) circular lily pond, the Monkey Puzzle Avenue which was planted in 1896, a walled garden and miles of walks through woodland and alongside the lochs.
Castle Kennedy Gardens is one of the most popular gardens in Scotland
Castle Kennedy is particularly famous for its Rhododendrons and Azaleas, so maybe a trip next spring is in order?
