Stroll along avenues of rustling beeches planted centuries ago. Breathe in the perfume of the flowerbeds as bees buzz happily around you. Watch the herons as they shop for lunch in tinkling streams. If you want to truly relax, return to nature in one of our beautiful parks and gardens and let natural Scotland soothe your spirits.
Landscapes and nature
Our naturally beautiful National Parks
Take a walk on the wild side and discover the beautiful flora and fauna of Scotland's National Parks. Cairngorms National Park is the largest National Park in the UK, with ancient forests and rare alpine habitats. You can see several precious natural environments in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, from fragile peat bogs to craggy mountain tops where rare plants and and animals cling to life.
Cairngorms National Park
Twice the size of the Lake District, the Cairngorms National Park has more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots, friendly villages and distilleries than you could explore in a lifetime. Well, you might make it round them all, but you'd better start soon!
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
In Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park you can discover centuries of history and a beautiful landscape, right on the doorstep of the central cities.
Scotland's Royal Botanic Gardens
Do you love the peace and inspiration of beautiful green spaces? Then Scotland's four Royal Botanic Gardens should be top of your to-visit list.
- Logan in Dumfries & Galloway - Scotland's most exotic garden and the riotous colours of its southern hemisphere plants will dazzle your eyes.
- Dawyck in the Scottish Borders - boasts one of the world's finest arboreta. You'll be amazed at the springtime splendour of its famous Azalea Terrace.
- Benmore in Argyll - huge redwood trees form one of the most dramatic entrances of any garden in Britain. Get ready to feel very small, but very, very inspired.
- The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh - its seeds were first sown in 1670, making it the second oldest botanic garden in Britain. Give yourself time to admire its outstanding palm house and the grand views of Edinburgh Castle.
Green cities
Edinburgh is blessed with a photogenic park right in the centre of the city - Princes Street Gardens. And although Glasgow has a powerful industrial heritage, it's actually one of the greenest cities in Europe - while away an afternoon in Kelvingrove Park or Pollok Country Park and you'll see what we mean. Camperdown Park in Dundee feels more like a country estate than an urban green space.
Is this Scotland or Morocco?
You'll be surprised at how exotic the flora is in many parts of Scotland thanks to the waters of the Gulf Stream, which create warm microclimates. Come to Culzean Castle's garden when the sun is out, and with the palm trees and Moorish architectural flourishes of the castle itself, you might forget you're in South Ayrshire. The beautiful grounds doubled as the estate of Lord Summerisle, played by Christopher Lee, in the 1973 cult classic movie, The Wicker Man.
Beyond the ornamental
There's more to our gardens than just a pretty face. Walled gardens were the supermarkets of their day, supplying large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetable for great houses. Walk round the garden at Edzell Castle in Angus on a warm day and take a deep breath - the herby aroma will have your senses singing.