Gordon Castle Walled Garden
Gordon Castle Walled Garden
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
If you’re looking for a magical day out in North-East Scotland, visit our Walled Garden at Gordon Castle which is being lovingly restored to its former glory. Over two hundred years old, it is one of Britain’s largest and oldest working kitchen gardens. Complete with rare and heritage plants, the garden walls are lined with 259 espaliered trees giving the keen gardener plenty to admire. At an impressive eight acres, it has been re-designed by award-winning designer Arne Maynard to allow a modern twist on a traditional design. In addition, the recently restored Victorian Mackenzie & Moncur glasshouse displays an impressive amount of delicious tomatoes in the summer months. Watch our dedicated team of gardeners at work as this magical garden evolves with the seasons and bears fruit for our café visitors ensuring quality home-grown food served all day.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Lyn OWardington, United Kingdom48 contributionsBy pass gordon Castle its not even a proper Castle and head into Fochabers and the garden centreFochabers is a lovely little town in North east of Scotland on the road from Inver to Aberdeen. It's laid out on a grid pattern. Has a beautiful church in the square, a small local museum and some nice pubs and a restaurant. At the far end of the town is christies garden centre and cafe. It also has a children's play area outdoors, a talking parrot and a small aviary and gorgeous owl. It's well worth a stop. Forget gordon castle it's a rip off.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 5 January 2024
- Tom FCounty Durham, United Kingdom4 contributionsA must visit in Moray!This has to be one of, if not the best garden in the country. My friends and I had such a fun day exploring it. It is clear how much time and effort has been put into it. There is just an abundance of beautiful flowers, as well as fruit and vegetables and even a maze! A great day out for all age groups. To make it even better, there is a shop where you can buy a range of different products made from ingredients grown in the garden. They make fantastic memories from a great day out around the garden, as well as lovely presents.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 9 June 2024
- Beth_sageMinnetonka, Minnesota558 contributionsHerbs and espalier fun to seeOur tour group was led through the garden by the head gardener. It was very interesting to hear how this garden needs to produce income through herbs and other products. Loved to see the espalier pears and apples. And the sculpture made from tools was fantastic - apparently the sculptor said never again with the tools! Also a nice selection of products in the shop.Visited June 2024Travelled soloWritten 14 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
234 reviews
Excellent
139
Very good
42
Average
18
Poor
20
Terrible
15
PhotoColin
Aberdeenshire, UK161 contributions
Jul 2021
What a stunning place to visit. It was a shame that the cafe and shop are only open on certain days, however, we were able to get a drink from the outdoor servery. The gardens are fantastic and completely accessible for those with limited mobility or like myself, a wheelchair user (including access into the glass house).
This would have easily have had 5***** stars however, I do have one disappointment.
The Red Emergency chord in the disabled toilet was not only tied up out of the way (and reach in case of emergency) but, even after I untied it and attached a Euan's Guide Red Chord Reminder card, it still does not reach the floor (a maximum of 100mm above the floor), as required.
Please put this right as it is literally the only thing that lets your wonderful site down.
This would have easily have had 5***** stars however, I do have one disappointment.
The Red Emergency chord in the disabled toilet was not only tied up out of the way (and reach in case of emergency) but, even after I untied it and attached a Euan's Guide Red Chord Reminder card, it still does not reach the floor (a maximum of 100mm above the floor), as required.
Please put this right as it is literally the only thing that lets your wonderful site down.
Written 21 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrailBlazer519173
Kinloss, UK41 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
We have been to this amazing garden a number of times but today was a real treat! The amount of work that has gone in to making this space really beautiful and also incredible functional is tangible. A mixture of beautiful flower beds and impressive vegetables (i now have veggie envy to be honest!) the visit was topped off with a relaxing coffee under a grape vine in the courtyard of the cafe. Our visit was with a mixture of teens and early 20s as well as a couple of us older ones and we all really loved it. I will be going back again as often as possible.
Written 23 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John A
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Couples
We were given vouchers for afternoon tea as a present. Tried phoning to book, message told us to book on line. Tried that, doesn't work, only can book lunch. Tried emailing reservations as suggested on line, still waiting for a response. Called in to book a table for the following day, no problem, reservation made, even got a phone call the following day to confirm time that afternoon. When we arrived at the booked time, panic from the waitress, no table reserved, all tables in use! Waited 15 minutes until a table became free. Waited while this was cleared and sprayed, don't know what they use but it's certainly sticky! Taken to our table, sat for another 15 minutes, then asked a passing waitress if someone was bringing our afternoon tea? More panic, drinks order taken but we said we required our drink with the afternoon tea, not before. Sat for another 20 minutes, and our afternoon tea arrived, sausage roll, 2 savoury thingies, 3 thick sliced bread sandwiches each, a scone and jam, and some sweet pieces. Waited and waited until we reminded the waitress that we were still waiting on our drinks. This is a major exercise with the hot drinks dispenser which appears to require about 3 minutes for each cup of coffee! Why not serve a pot of hot coffee instead of the lookwarm from the machine. Very disappointing afternoon tea and service. Their excuse was they were understaffed, but 5 front of house serving around 30 customers isn't understaffed, it's disorganised! One guy tied up trying to make hot drinks, another flaffing about behind the counter, 2 girls wandering around looking lost, picking up the odd dish to return for washing up, and the guy with the trainee badge on running around trying to serve customers, not just in the cafe, but carrying food on plates in the pouring rain across the courtyard to another area with customers. This place desperately requires someone in charge with experience in running a cafe and not leaving a bunch of youngsters struggling to cope with no idea who is doing what and when.
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FMW13
Irvine, UK196 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
This is a must-see if you grow your own veggies or fruit, or if you have a cutting garden for fresh flowers at home, or if you want to increase the bees & bumblebees in your own garden. I have never seen such a productive walled garden. Not just that, the veggies & flowers are mixed together & set out in a design that makes for a delightful walk, with colours coordinated, even in the rows of lettuce. Bees everywhere. Designated outdoor theatre space. Can’t speak for the food & drink; we visited as a Flower Farmers weekend was being set up and were sorry to miss it. The garden is nominated for an annual award from the Historic Houses Association and it certainly gets my vote. Allow an afternoon if you love your own garden & be inspired.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ivy
Basingstoke, UK8 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
The gardens are beautiful, having visited several times at varying times of the year. I was particularly impressed with the wildflower section, it was simply beautiful. If you visit in the autumn, the fruit trees are laden down with apples, pears and plums, and yet I have had a sneaky piece of fruit whilst walking round! That being said, I do find the price on the hefty side as I have visited much larger gardens at lower prices, and think there should be some form of discounted price for walking round the garden if you use the cafe, as that is not particularly cheap either.
Written 13 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nozzille
Norfolk, UK97 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a complete and pleasant surprise and no one should pass it by! Beautifully designed and laid out in what must be one of the largest walled gardens in UK, there was plenty to see, even on a fresh October day. The cafe has the best soup [fresh Cullen skink) my husband has ever tasted.
I will definitely go back again and implore everyone to take time out to experience the calm and beautiful garden.
I will definitely go back again and implore everyone to take time out to experience the calm and beautiful garden.
Written 22 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
glen1goodboy
Cupar, UK94 contributions
Sept 2020
This huge walled garden is a truly lovely place. It's a commercial garden, the largest in the world the owners believe, very well managed and quietly situated in the extensive grounds of Gordon Castle, well back from the road, so it is quiet. It cost us (OAPs) £5 each to visit, and we both thought it very well worth it.
Written 4 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C M
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
The walled garden is beautiful and the garden staff friendly and knowledgeable. It is a large area to explore so take your time but has no shaded areas for sunny days.
The cafe is not what it used to be and very disappointing. It is only open on certain days. The indoor seating capacity has halved. The signs guide you inside to meet staff to be seated. There were 4 huddled behind the counter when we visited but none were looking out for customers. I had to stop a passing waitress to ask for a table. The food here was previously excellent. A new menu has been launched. I like the idea of locally sourced food but the salads we ordered were bland and overpriced; £15 for a small tasteless chicken salad, £13 for carrot hummus, slaw, tasteless herbed cold potatoes, and ‘bruschetta’ of toasted sourdough with olive oil. The roll with smoked haddock and egg good but overpriced.
Recommend visit the garden but if you visit the cafe stick to coffee and cakes!
The cafe is not what it used to be and very disappointing. It is only open on certain days. The indoor seating capacity has halved. The signs guide you inside to meet staff to be seated. There were 4 huddled behind the counter when we visited but none were looking out for customers. I had to stop a passing waitress to ask for a table. The food here was previously excellent. A new menu has been launched. I like the idea of locally sourced food but the salads we ordered were bland and overpriced; £15 for a small tasteless chicken salad, £13 for carrot hummus, slaw, tasteless herbed cold potatoes, and ‘bruschetta’ of toasted sourdough with olive oil. The roll with smoked haddock and egg good but overpriced.
Recommend visit the garden but if you visit the cafe stick to coffee and cakes!
Written 21 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GrandTour49201
3 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
My husband was given a voucher for afternoon tea for his birthday, it was booked weeks in advance for 13th August.
We arrived and had to queue to be seated although there was plenty empty tables.
Once seated we were given a drinks menu, our order for one tea and one coffee was taken shortly after, we then waited for 25 mins before we were asked if it was alright to bring our food out although our drinks weren’t ready but wouldn’t be long, I said it would be best to have our food and drinks served together so the waitress left then a few minutes later brought our food and said they are making your drinks now.
The sandwiches, selection of hot food and scones were alright but the cakes were a real let down. A tiny strawberry tart and tray bake along with a piece of shop bought cake, sadly nothing like the pictures advertising the afternoon tea.
We arrived and had to queue to be seated although there was plenty empty tables.
Once seated we were given a drinks menu, our order for one tea and one coffee was taken shortly after, we then waited for 25 mins before we were asked if it was alright to bring our food out although our drinks weren’t ready but wouldn’t be long, I said it would be best to have our food and drinks served together so the waitress left then a few minutes later brought our food and said they are making your drinks now.
The sandwiches, selection of hot food and scones were alright but the cakes were a real let down. A tiny strawberry tart and tray bake along with a piece of shop bought cake, sadly nothing like the pictures advertising the afternoon tea.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gail
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Friends
Beautiful place, but would not go for a meal again! Very limited selection and way overpriced. We had the frittata, which was served with a couple of small (cold) herby potatoes, a few salad leaves and a spoonful of undressed coleslaw. The small portion of frittata was tasty, but definitely not anywhere near worth the almost £15 cost.
Similar story with the carrot hummus.
A large, reserved table arrived shortly after us and left once they'd looked over the menu.
Coffee and cake - yes, but don't go for lunch unless you enjoy pretentious, overpriced fare!
Similar story with the carrot hummus.
A large, reserved table arrived shortly after us and left once they'd looked over the menu.
Coffee and cake - yes, but don't go for lunch unless you enjoy pretentious, overpriced fare!
Written 26 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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