On Saturday the 17th of may 2014 it was a wonderfully warm Sunny day , so team DGWGO (R.B – L.C and M.J) decided to pack a Picnic and head off to explore , Out & About in our wonderful region ! We didn’t have to travel that far as we are blessed in D&G with thousands of wonderful places to visit . So we just travelled 8 miles from DGWGO HQ to the National Trust Of Scotlands ‘THREAVE GARDENS’ . 
I have to say , I am actually ashamed that although I have been at many weddings and parties and meetings at Threave , I have never actually taken the time to walk around the wonderful gardens , and i was actually shocked at just how wonderful they are ! We arrived at around 12.30pm and the visitor centre at the gardens was already very busy with folk having lunch and browsing around the shop , but the gardens are so large that you felt like you were the only people in them !
The garden is a massive 64 acres (26 ha) in size, and is part of the 1,500 acres (607 ha) Threave Estate originally developed by William Gordon from Liverpool who bought the estate in 1867, he then built the Scottish baronial-style house that dominates the garden . In 1948 William’s grandson, Major Alan Gordon passed the estate on and It is now owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. The gardens were recently voted The Independent’s ’10 Best Gardens to Visit in the UK’. to read the full article click this link . https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/the-10-best-gardens-to-visit-8575566.html
Below are some Photos taken by R.B Photography of just a few of the wonderful Plants flowers and Colours on display at Threave Gardens in May
The house is now home to the National Trust for Scotland’s School of Practical Gardening: its one-year course has been running since the 1950s, and is much in demand. The results of the students’ work can be seen all over the garden.
Another very interesting fact about Threave gardens is that back In 2010 it was designated Scotland’s first official bat reserve and there are some wonderful bat sculptures around the garden ! More info on https://www.facebook.com/NtsThreaveBatReserve?ref=ts&fref=ts
If you have the energy to walk right to the top of the garden you are rewarded with the magnificent views across to the Galloway hills and Gatehouse of Fleet towards the west . The Hill in the garden has showy blooms of Rhododendron and Azalea. Selections of primulas, meconopsis, and hostas , Which are at their best in May and June along with other attractions such as the handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrate) and the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). For more info visit https://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Threave-Estate/Wildlife/ and https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/castledouglas/threavegardens/
Below are a Few Shots Taken by R.B Photography of just a handful of the Sculptures you will find Dotted all over Threave Gardens
We loved exploring the gardens and had great fun , examining the sculptures and art , exploring the ponds,waterfalls,p,pathways ,lawns and wooded area’s , even the youngest member of team DGWGO was rolling down the hills on their side .We Visited the wonderful fibre Glass Belted Galloway Sculptures( where we had our picnic) and played on the climbing frames . Although at £21.00 for 2 adults and a child it is quite expensive we felt we really did get our money’s worth as you really could of spent the whole day there with so much to see , and so much open ground to relax around . If you love Art , photography , gardening , peace and relaxation , Flowers , Wildlife , views to stare at for hours Then Threave Gardens is well worth a visit ! We will definitely be back , I imagine it will be wonderful to visit it in each season of the year to see all the changes !
Out and About review written by RB for DGWGO
Photos all taken by R.B Photography for exclusive use by DGWGO
Estate and Garden: Open All year, daily
Visitor & Countryside Centres, Restaurant, Gift Shop, Plant Centre and Glasshouses:
1 Feb to 22 Mar, Tue-Sun 10.30-4;
23 Mar to 31 Oct, daily 10-5;
1 Nov to 23 Dec, Fri-Sun 10-5.
House: 23 Mar to 31 Oct, Wed-Fri and Sun 11-3.30.
Visit to house by guided tour only and visitors are advised to book in advance.
Tel. 0844 493 2245
Threave Estate, Castle Douglas, Dumfries And Galloway, DG7 1RX
web site https://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Threave-Estate/
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