I fell in love with the Hercules Garden at Blair Castle in Fife when I was a young teenager. It wasn’t difficult: a walled garden complete with bothy, Japanese bridge, a folly, vegetables beds and fruit trees running down in stripes to a lake. The beds are beautiful from Spring to late Autumn, as pictured above and below, and have a painterly, broad-brush look, contained neatly within the stone walls.
One of the most haunting things about this garden, which lies within the grounds of the stunning Arts and Crafts Blair Castle, is that for nearly half a century it lay hidden under a thick planting of Christmas trees.
In 1984, gardeners removed the trees, which had grown enormous, and discovered the original Georgian form of the nine acre garden. It had been developed by the 2nd Duke of Atholl in the mid-18th century, but had fallen into disrepair following the two world wars and increased financial pressure from the new death duties.
The trustees of the castle decided to embark upon an ambitious 10-year-long restoration programme, in which they studied archive material and commissioned a detailed survey of the garden. This survey provided them with valuable information about its original layout.
Sarah Troughton, head trustee of the castle, says: ‘Traces of the original design remained. You could see where the peat lined ponds and paths had been. I felt very strongly that it would be lovely to put the shape back because you could see that it had been there historically.
‘The garden is now finished or as finished as a garden ever is. Anything we do now consists of improving or adding.’
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
We normally visit Perthshire each autumn (but not sadly this year) and have been to Blair Castle often. It has one of the most romantic castles in Scotland and an amazing collection of trees. Nearby is one of my favourite distilleries, Edradour and the fabulous Moulin Inn. Oh god, I’m coming over all misty eyed.
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Gorgeous photos and a real testament to what treasures are to be found in Europe in terms of parks, gardens, and, yes of course, castles.
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Those are so lovely, just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful place!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Hi Martyn, I loved Perthshire when I went. We stayed by Rannoch, which is stunning, and went sailing around the loch in the shadow of Shiehallion every day. It was amazing! I LOVED Blair Castle, especially the corridor of antlers - it’s the most imaginative and romantic places I have been. Although just down the road is the former Rannoch school, which actually looks like Hogwarts. Can you imagine going to school in an Arts and Crafts castle? How amazing!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Wow - Blair Castle is definately some where I want to go now.
on Nov 21st, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Isabel- I imagine such a school would be private…