Drum Castle and Garden

Drumoak, Banchory, AB31 5EY

Drum Castle is one of the oldest properties in luxurious Royal Deeside.

In the 1990s, the Trust gardeners created the Garden of Historic Roses to showcase four centuries of rose growing and display. This project is a horticultural and garden design journey through time, in which you embark from the 17th century’s harmonious, classical design to the elegant and landscaped 18th century, flowing into the well displayed Victorian period, and finishing at the naturalistic and informal 20th century.

The rose, with its companion plants of the period creates clearly contrasting ambiences. Tulips and spring bulbs prepare the show, the clematis and peonies compete in beauty, whilst the perennials and dahlias prolong the summer vibrancy.

Thirty years after its creation, the garden is becoming mature. The yew and box hedges and the holly topiaries guide you through angled paths and discreet alleys, marked by a pond, statues and urns. The eye is constantly caught by a bloom of an opulent rambler, the top of a climber escaping the wall or a bright spot appearing in the next quadrant.

Through the centuries, the form of the rose evolves as we follow the course of horticultural progress and the garden collection. From the pure and simple forms of the early times and the delicate pompom and chiffon petal shape to bolder Victorian forms and colours, we arrive at the modern English rose created during recent decades.

Leaving the rose garden and heading to the arboretum, you will find the beautiful 1920s stone framed garden pond, seamlessly planted. An illuminated jewel in the spring with the calthas, primulas and meconopis, it becomes luxuriant in the summer with hostas, rheums and gunneras. Famous for hosting hundreds of newts, frogs, dragonflies and even leeches, the pond is a wildlife paradise. A place for peaceful contemplation.

The arboretum and the pinetum created in the 1700s flow all around the castle, shaping majestically the garden and beyond, with giant redwood, aged umbrella pines and venerable champion trees.

Drum is a fantastic walk through time.

Website: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/drum-castle

Telephone: 01330 700334

Opening times: Rose Garden – 11am-5pm from 1st April – 31st August / 11am-4pm 1st September -31st October

Admission costs: Adults: £4.50 / Concessions: £2.50 / NTS Members: FREE

Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org