Bringing Scotland’s Gardens Home

Although our recent trip to Scotland was mostly for golf, I found myself equally enchanted by the gardens we visited as by the rolling fairways. The temperate Scottish climate—soft winters, mild summers—allows homes to pop open their wide screenless windows, welcoming the outside in. I can’t help but feel a tinge of envy, as I shoo a mosquito from my glowing screen as I write this.  

Greywalls Hotel & Chez Roux — East Lothian

Nestled beside the renowned Muirfield golf course, Greywalls is an Edwardian gem. The symmetrical-walled gardens, edged in honey-coloured local stone, and lined with geometric hedgerows, each unfolding a new treasure and secluded space.  

The gardens highlight a functional vegetable and herb garden supplying the Michelin‑level restaurant Chez Roux. Seeing garden‑fresh produce integrated so seamlessly into the well manicured spaces made my heart happy.  The greenhouses structural elegance showcased so many features that I longed to explore further, but the gardeners were quietly at work, so I gave them their space. 

One of the sights I wanted to remember is of vibrant red geraniums climbing a stone wall one of one of many greenhouses on the property—the blooms exceeding up beyond the roof vents felt both wild and deliberate.

Attadale Gardens — Strathcarron, Wester Ross

Driving through the Highlands, we stumbled upon Attadale Gardens, a 20‑acre masterpiece set along Loch Carron.  Founded in Victorian times and later restored, the gardens are known for their ancient rhododendrons (which must be spectacular in bloom), water gardens, sculptures, and the occasional waterfall cascading over mossy cliffs.

Meandering through gravel paths, over little bridges above stream‑fed ponds, and into a sunken fern garden cooled by spray, I felt immersed in a landscape alive with contrast—bold foliage, delicate blooms, sculptural stone. 

The Coal House — Fife

While not exclusively a garden, The Coal House offers a place where garden meets golf deserves a place on this list.  The owners greeted us with genuine hospitality, the rooms were thoughtfully appointed, and the casual lounge made a lovely office for an afternoon of work. Working there with the doors wide open and the breeze flowing in, created a dream of a space.  The picturesque lawn framed by gardens and a charming gazebo. Surrounding it was a whimsical fairy garden woven with flowers and greenery. As I sipped a locally crafted gin & tonic, guests played lawn golf just yards away—combining leisure, family time, and gardens in harmony. It all speaks to all we are creating at Century Oaks Collective.

St. Andrews Botanic Garden — Fife

Closer to civilization but no less magical, the University‑supported Botanic Garden in St. Andrews spans about 18 acres along the banks of the Kinness Burn. Home to over 8,000 species, it’s laid out in zones—from woodland walks to meadows, rock garden, and water garden—each thoughtfully designed.

The Water Garden was a highlight for me: layered ponds and cascades emerging from the rock garden, echoing the soothing patterns of a Highland burn. I can see many aspects of this space featured in the future Secret Garden at Century Oaks—a shimmering, planted waterway with naturalistic lines and pools.

Scotland gifted me more than golf—I left with visions of gardens in harmony with cuisine, structure, movement and with a notebook full of ideas (and pressed flowers) to bring back to Century Oaks.