Blair Castle - Hercules Garden

About the garden

The first impression of the landscape around Blair Castle is of the sweeping lawns and magnificent trees, but visitors have to explore further to discover the nine-acre walled Hercules Garden. Created between 1747 and 1760 by the second Duke of Atholl and his gardener John Wilson, then abandoned in the 1960s to be restored in the 1990s, it was shortlisted for Historic Houses garden of the year in 2023.

Plants are chosen to suit the northern climate including herbaceous plants such as phlox, Echinops, hosta, astilbe and aster. Fruit trees, climbing roses and a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs, many having a scent and fine autumn colour, make up the mix. From the walled garden, a walk leads to the ruins of St Bride’s Kirk, dating back to the 12th-century, and Diana’s Grove, planted mainly with exotic conifers in the late 19th century.

For younger guests, the recently renovated adventure playground features an exciting assault course, a wooden castle fort for imaginative play and a sheltered, rustic picnic area.