Lauriston Castle – Free Gardens Above the Forth
A few hours.
The route
Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house with Victorian additions, set in thirty acres of gardens and woodland on the north-west edge of Edinburgh.
The grounds are free to wander, with an award-winning Japanese garden, a rose garden, a pond and views out over the Firth of Forth. It's a quiet, easy hour away from the city centre, good for grandparents and dog walkers.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
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The day
Lauriston
A slow wander round a castle's lawns and woods and through its Japanese garden, with the Forth glinting beyond the trees.
About an hour and a half
Lauriston Castle
An attraction
Lauriston Castle stands in its own grounds on Cramond Road South, between Davidson's Mains and Cramond, postcode EH4 6AD. Parking inside the grounds is limited, so be kind to the neighbours, and Blue Badge holders may park in front of the castle. Buses 16, 27, 29 and 37 run to the Silverknowes terminus, and the 47 to Davidson's Mains, each about ten minutes' walk away: check the times. The grounds are free to wander all year round, and from April to October they're open every day from 8am to 7.30pm. From November to March, ring 0131 336 2060 for the gate times before going. Walk up the drive to the castle, then on to the award-winning Japanese garden, the rose garden, the pond with its bronze Diana the Huntress and the woodland paths, with views out over the Firth of Forth. There's level access to the gardens and to the outdoor accessible toilets. Dogs are welcome in the gardens. From April to October Mimi's Little Bakehouse at Lauriston does coffee, cakes and scones, mostly to take away, from 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm at weekends. For its winter days, ring 0131 336 2060. The castle itself is seen only on a booked guided tour, which runs from April to October.
If it rains
The gardens are all outdoors; on a wet day keep to the drive and the level paths near the castle, and take a coffee from Mimi's.