Walks

Start at the admission hut and enter the kitchen garden through the metal gates. Seasonal produce is often available here on our produce stand for a small donation (June–October).

Turn left to pass the vegetable plots and annual cut flower beds that are sown and planted up from late April onwards with a wide range of varieties.

The Edimental Trefoil Border on your left is planted with a range of edible ornamental plants. The shape and colours celebrate the past history of this area as a Girl Guide meeting point and camping area.

Continue past the fruit cages where a wide range of berries (blackcurrants, redcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, etc) are grown, along with delicious rhubarb.

Then head north to the orchard areas, where over 60 apple, plum and crab-apple trees are planted. 

You also pass the late season prairie-style borders that are a haven for bees and butterflies from August through to October.

The path now reaches the historically important feature of the dipping tank – this was traditionally used to water the kitchen garden. 

Venture back up the path flanked by the dahlia and cut flower borders and depart the kitchen garden via the metal gate surrounded by the high beech hedge, to enter the grass tennis court area.

The old tennis court now plays host to a variety of children’s games. 

The Geilston Beastie Bothy (bug hotel) and flower borders by the old Gardener’s Cottage teem with buglife throughout the seasons. 

Take the grass path to the left at the far end of the tennis court and head into the woodland garden.

[You can also take a small detour to the woodland play structure and magnifying posts to enjoy a shady seat at the picnic tables.]

A beautiful carpet of daffodils, followed by bluebells and wildflowers later in spring, lead down towards the Geilston Burn under a verdant green tree canopy. 

Turn right when you reach the path beside the burn.

Continue along the Geilston Burn, passing over the first of three bridges that cross this lovely, gentle-flowing watercourse. 

You might spot sea trout, dippers, kingfishers, ducks or (if you are quiet) our resident heron.

Continue along to the next bridge, maybe venturing off the path slightly to take a seat in the gazebo nestled in amongst the hydrangea glade, which is particularly striking in late summer and autumn.

Continue along the burn to the third bridge, passing the spectacular blue Iris sibirica border (flowering in late May), which is overlooked by the window of the potting shed in the walled garden. 

The view from this bridge of the Geilston Burn and mill pond waterfall can be either tranquil or quite dramatic if in spate.

Follow the meandering burn through the glen to the marriage well, which commemorates the marriage of the Geils (the former owners) in 1863. 

A set of steps take you up to a metal gate, leading back to the front of Geilston House if a shorter route is preferred. The house dates from as early as 1666, with extensions added on by various owners over the past 300 years.

Otherwise, turn left here and take the grass path loop (approx. 600m) around the woodland paddock and stunning bluebell glade ( flowers in late April/early May), heading down a further set of steps and back along the Geilston Burn to return back to the metal gate that leads to Geilston House.

After leaving the woodland, head into the 200-year-old walled garden to the east side of Geilston House, passing the rose garden and entering through another green metal gate. 

A riot of colour awaits, from the pinks and whites of the heather garden, passing a border of evergreen azaleas to the central cherub bird bath flanked by borders of sumptuous tulips in late April/May, followed by annual flowers.

Continue down the herbaceous border towards the listed 1890s Mackenzie & Moncur glasshouse and quaint potting shed, with walls dating from 1797.

Turn right to walk past the smaller glasshouse and then down the steps to the former hen run. 

Follow the grass path back towards the heather garden, passing the bird bath and continuing around the walled garden, taking in the splendour of the American redwood tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum) that dominates the central lawn.

Depart the walled garden via the lower green door that leads back out to the Geilston Burn. 

Turn left and up the gravel path back to the front of Geilston House. 

Continue up the driveway back towards the reception hut, passing the doocot and former stable block, to return to your starting point.