Dawyck – The World's Trees in the Borders
A few hours.
The route
Dawyck is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's arboretum in the Tweed valley near Stobo, one of the finest in the world, with woodland and burnside (streamside) walks among trees gathered from Nepal, China and Chile.
Some of Britain's oldest and tallest trees grow here, and the café looks out over the garden. It's a peaceful few hours, and children go free.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Wilderkin Cabin, 12 miles away. Sleeps 2.
Then The Scullery in Yarrow, 13 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Fri 13 Nov to Sun 15 Nov.
The day
Dawyck
A slow climb among the great trees and down by the burn, then lunch looking out over the garden.
About three hours
Dawyck Botanic Garden
An attraction
Dawyck is on the B712 near Stobo, eight miles from Peebles. Its drive is narrow between stone pillars, so there's no left turn into it from the Peebles side: come from the Broughton side and turn right. There's a large car park. The garden opens every day from 1 February to 30 November: 10am to 5pm from March to October, last entry 4.15pm, and 10am to 4pm in February and November, last entry 3.15pm. Tickets are £10.80 for adults and £9 for concessions, or £12 and £10 with a Gift Aid donation, and children 15 and under go free. Sixty-five acres of woodland and burnside walks climb the hillside among some of Britain's oldest and tallest trees. Look for the Dawyck Beech, multi-stemmed Douglas firs and a silver fir nearly 350 years old. Themed trails follow plant hunters such as David Douglas, and there's the world's first reserve for mosses, lichens and fungi. Snowdrops line the Scrape Burn in February, azaleas light the terrace in May and June, and the woods turn colour in autumn. Only assistance dogs are allowed. Some paths climb at up to 1 in 6, with steps at bridges and terraces, but a waymarked gravel route on the lower level avoids the steps, and two wheelchairs can be booked on 01721 760254. Lunch is in the café in the visitor centre, open every day the garden is, 10am to 4.30pm, with breakfasts, lunches, scones and home baking, and views out over the garden. The visitor centre has accessible toilets.
If it rains
The garden is out in the weather on a wooded hillside; on a wet day keep to the lower gravel route, and the visitor centre, café and shop stay open even if the garden closes in severe weather.
Photographs by Dawyck Botanic Garden and Rupert Norris via Google