Pitmedden Garden

About the garden

Owned by

The National Trust for Scotland

Brilliant design in the form of vibrant colours and meticulously manicured shapes give Pitmedden Garden its unique charm. With almost six miles of clipped box hedging, sculptures and built heritage, the parterres at the heart of the garden are a masterpiece of intricate patterns and fragrant flowers.

The Great Garden dates back to 1675 when it was originally laid out by Sir Alexander Seton, a retired Court of Session judge in the reign of James VII/II. His head gardener had designed gardens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and was similarly influenced by the French Palace of Versailles. In the 1950s Pitmedden was gifted to the Trust who re-created the garden based on 17th-century plans after it was ploughed up to grow vegetables during the Second World War and used as a kitchen garden for over 100 years.

In 2021 we reimagined the upper terrace parterre for the modern world with a fresh, sustainable garden. A biodiverse, species-rich meadow weaves and drifts, offering changing patterns and colours. Combined with our orchard of more than 200 fruit trees, Pitmedden really is a delight for the senses.

Please note: this garden is partially accessible.