Scottish Snowdrop Festival 2019 blossoms from this weekend!

The Gardens of a spectacular Gothic House are just one of the venues taking part in one of the country's most spectacular flower festivals!

Article Source: Visit Scotland
Last Updated: 21 January 2019 16:53

More than 60 events will take place nationwide showcasing some of Scotland’s most beautiful snowdrop collections from 25th January to 11th March 2019, including snowdrop walks and talks, guided tours and open days for all the family.

Organised by garden tourism group Discover Scottish Gardens and supported by VisitScotland, the Festival aims to encourage locals and tourists to enjoy the wonders of Scotland’s gardens during the snowdrop flowering period and highlight the country’s diverse collections.

The Festival attracts organisations including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the National Trust for Scotland and will showcase an array of events across the breadth of the country, from Dunvegan Castle in the Isle of Skye to Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders.

Argyll & Bute
The Mount Stuart Trust Estate on the Isle of Bute has signed up for the Scottish Snowdrop Festival. The 19-century neo-gothic Mount Stuart mansion features magnificent Victorian Gothic architecture and design together with contemporary craftsmanship, surrounded by 300 acres of gloriously maintained grounds and gardens. Visitors can embrace the early signs of spring from 25 January to 11 March by taking a self-guided walk through the blanket of snowdrops that cover the estate.

East Renfrewshire
Less than a mile from Glasgow’s bustling Southside suburbs, Greenbank Garden will be providing guided walks on 9 March where visitors can view the collection of snowdrops. Cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, visitors can also see the beautiful statue of Foam – a bronze water nymph set in a circular pool with fountains.

Edinburgh and the Lothians
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has a fascinating collection of specialist snowdrops within its 72 acres of stunning scenery. Snowdrops will be visible throughout the Festival and special walking tours will take place at 11am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 15 February to 10 March.

House of the Binns in Linlithgow will be taking part in the festival from 8 February to 3 March. Visitors can come along to this 18th Century parkland and discover the drifts of snowdrops planted in the woodland adjacent to the house.

Finally, visitors can also enjoy the display of snowdrops around the historic designed landscape of the grounds of Hopetoun House. Grounds will be open on 17 February from 10:30-4pm with a 2pm guided walk available.

Kingdom of Fife
Cambo Gardens, which has more than 350 varieties of snowdrops on show, was one of the first snowdrop gardens to appear in Scotland, attracting visitors since 1934. Open throughout the festival, the gardens are home to some of the most significant snowdrops in the country, Galanthus woronowii ‘Elizabeth Harrison’, with shiny green leaves and yellow-marked petals.

West Fife Woodland Group is running guided walks on 3 and 10 March, where visitors can enjoy the snowdrops, as well as the remnants of the only Humphry Repton designed landscape in Scotland.

Two new Kingdom additions to the 2019 Festival include Kirklands House in Saline which, from 12 February to 3 March, invites visitors to enjoy a walk around the two-acres of woodland garden covered in a dazzling white sheet of snowdrops and The Plant Market, Hillend, Dunfermline, which offers gardeners information and advice on creating winter colour in the garden.

Renfrewshire
RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, one of the few wetlands left in West Scotland will be taking part in one of the country’s most spectacular flower festivals.

As well as viewing the gorgeous Galanthus, Lochwinnoch is the perfect spot to watch whooper swans, crested grebe and a wide variety of water fowl during the winter months. The nature reserve has a visitor centre where more information can be found about the area, as well as the snowdrops and wildlife there.

Catherine Erskine, Chair of Discover Scottish Gardens and founder of the Snowdrop Festival in Scotland, said: “Over the years, more of us are falling in love with the dainty winter flower and very much look forward to the Festival as gardens open up again for the new year. We are very lucky in Scotland to have some truly stunning sites to visit, many of which open their doors for the Snowdrop Festival, showcasing another spectacular side to their gardens. As the Festival grows in popularity, we encourage the younger generation to discover the world of snowdrops for themselves, as well as the Isle of Bute’s stunning landscapes and historic sites.”

For festival highlights and events listings, visit www.visitscotland.com/snowdrop

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