Da Gairdins i Sand – a Garden by the Sea
A few hours.
The route
Da Gairdins i Sand, the gardens of Sand, is a woodland garden that Alan and Ruby Inkster began making in 1997, and it now runs to thousands of trees and plants above the sea.
There are ponds full of frogs, pampas and rhododendron beds, woodland walks and open views over the water. It's a gentle hour or two.
The day
Sand
A slow wander through trees and borders, with the sea below and a picnic bench never far away.
About two hours
Da Gairdins
Da Gairdins is at Sand, on Shetland's Westside near Bixter. Ring 01595 830254 before going to ask where to leave the car. They're open to everyone all year in daylight, and free, with donations welcome: the gardens are a registered charity, and all donations go on their upkeep. At the entrance a large map shows the walks. A third of the 60-acre site is woodland and garden, with three ponds busy with frogs, pampas plantations, rhododendron beds, woodland walks and picnic spots, and views across the sea. In autumn much of the planting turns russet. Dogs are welcome on a lead. One of the picnic areas has access for all; for the rest of the paths, ask about wheelchair access when you ring. There's no café that we know of, so bring a flask.
If it rains
All outdoors: a fine day for it, or waterproofs.
Photographs by Lynn Judith Thomson and Douglas Young via Google