Gardens & Estates

Discover the gardens, historic estates and designed landscapes of Royal Deeside

From Douneside’s own remarkable gardens to historic walled gardens, woodland estates and royal grounds, this corner of Aberdeenshire offers a rich variety of landscapes to explore throughout the seasons.

Gardens & Estates

A region shaped by gardeners, estates and centuries of thoughtful stewardship.

Royal Deeside and the wider Aberdeenshire countryside are home to some of Scotland’s most rewarding gardens and estates. Formal planting, productive kitchen gardens, ancient woodland and carefully managed parkland reveal how generations of owners, gardeners and estate teams have shaped the landscape. Douneside provides a natural starting point, with its own 17 acres of gardens surrounding the house and a varied collection of plants, trees, water features and seasonal borders. Beyond the estate, guests can explore royal grounds, castle gardens and expansive country estates within a comfortable day’s drive.

Gardens & estates

Where to begin.

Begin with these gardens, grounds and historic estates, each offering a different combination of horticulture, architecture, woodland and open landscape.

A red footbridge over Douneside House stream in the gardnes on a summers day

RHS Partner Garden

Douneside Gardens

Seventeen acres of carefully tended gardens surround Douneside House, with seasonal borders, a small arboretum, water features, productive growing areas and quiet places to pause. The gardens are an essential part of the Douneside experience and can be explored at leisure during a stay.

On the doorstep.

Traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones served in The Conservatory

Royal estate

Balmoral Gardens & Estate

The grounds at Balmoral combine formal gardens, productive areas and the wider natural beauty of the royal estate. Seasonal access allows visitors to explore landscaped grounds, admire the castle setting and discover the continuing relationship between the estate, its gardens and Royal Deeside.

Approx. 35 minutes from Douneside.

Crathes Castle and gardens aerial view of estate

Walled garden & estate

Crathes Castle Garden & Estate

Crathes is renowned for its exceptional walled garden, sculpted yew hedges and a succession of richly planted garden rooms. Beyond the formal gardens, waymarked estate trails pass through woodland and countryside, making this an excellent full or half-day visit.

Approx. 40 minutes from Douneside.

Historic garden & woodland

Drum Castle Garden & Estate

Drum pairs one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses with the Old Wood of Drum and a distinctive Garden of Historic Roses. The combination of ancient trees, designed garden spaces and centuries of family history gives the estate a particularly atmospheric character.

Approx. 50 minutes from Douneside.

Craigievar Castle rising above the surrounding historic stonework

Castle grounds

Craigievar Castle Grounds

Craigievar’s famous pink tower house stands within peaceful woodland and open grounds. While the castle is the principal attraction, the surrounding estate offers an attractive setting for a relaxed walk and a closer look at the landscape that frames one of Aberdeenshire’s best-known landmarks.

Approx. 20 minutes from Douneside.

Highland estate

Glen Tanar Estate

Glen Tanar is a vast working estate where designed landscape meets ancient Caledonian pinewood, river and open glen. Estate roads and paths offer gentle walks as well as longer routes, with the historic buildings and Chapel of St Lesmo adding interest to the natural setting.

Approx. 25 minutes from Douneside.

Walled garden & parkland

Castle Fraser Garden & Estate

Castle Fraser is surrounded by open parkland, woodland and a productive walled garden that reflects the estate’s long history. The grounds provide space for an unhurried visit, combining formal horticulture with views of the castle and surrounding Aberdeenshire countryside.

Approx. 45 minutes from Douneside.

Leith Hall moon gate in the gardens and estate

Historic garden & estate

Leith Hall Garden & Estate

Leith Hall sits within a sheltered estate of gardens, woodland and rolling countryside. The garden is known for its seasonal colour and intimate scale, while the house and wider grounds reveal the story of generations of the Leith-Hay family.

Approx. 55 minutes from Douneside.

Formal garden

Pitmedden Garden

Pitmedden is one of Scotland’s most distinctive formal gardens, celebrated for its elaborate parterres, precise planting and strong geometric design. The garden offers a striking contrast to the wilder landscapes of Royal Deeside and is particularly rewarding at the height of the growing season.

Approx. 65 minutes from Douneside.

View up the drive at Haddo House in the summer

Country house grounds

Haddo House & Country Park

Haddo combines elegant country-house surroundings with extensive parkland, woodland walks, water and open lawns. Its generous scale makes it well suited to a longer outing, with plenty of space to explore beyond the immediate formal setting of the house.

Approx. 75 minutes from Douneside.

Fyvie Castle estate gardens in Aberdeenshire

Castle grounds & estate

Fyvie Castle Garden & Estate

Fyvie Castle is set within mature grounds that include woodland, parkland and a picturesque loch. The estate landscape complements the richly historic interiors, creating a visit that combines architecture, collections and an enjoyable walk through the surrounding grounds.

Approx. 70 minutes from Douneside.

Mountain estate

Mar Lodge Estate

Mar Lodge is less a formal garden than a vast historic Highland estate, but its managed pinewoods, rivers, moorland and mountain landscapes make it an important part of Deeside’s estate story. It offers a powerful sense of scale and long-term stewardship.

Approx. 60 minutes from Douneside.

Designed landscapes

From formal borders to ancient woodland, every estate tells a different story.

The gardens and estates of Aberdeenshire range from highly ordered walled gardens to landscapes that appear almost entirely natural. At Douneside, horticulture is woven into the life of the house, with expert care, seasonal interest and productive growing all contributing to the guest experience. Elsewhere, clipped yews, historic rose collections, kitchen gardens and parkland sit alongside native woodland, rivers and open hill country. Together they reveal changing ideas about beauty, cultivation, conservation and the relationship between a house and its surrounding land.

Planning your day

Three simple ways to explore.

These suggested days offer a starting point and can later be expanded into detailed garden itineraries with seasonal highlights, opening information and recommended stops.