Threave Gardens & Mansion House

Threave Gardens and Mansion House are in Dumfries and Galloway southwest Scotland, 54 miles east of Stranraer, 21 miles southwest of Dumfries, 1 mile west of Castle Douglas with good signs from the main A75 road.

The Gardens and House have a small entrance fee, with the Gardens open year round and House Tours available from April to October certain days and times that are listed on their website. Threave Castle and Birds of Prey are about 1 mile east on the same Estate. Postcode: DG7 1RX

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There is a large car park next to the Visitor Centre with a large Cafe and Gift Shop. There is also the Stables Cafe in the Grounds that are open at busy times of the year, and a Kids Play a short walk from the Visitor Centre.

Threave Gardens are divided up into a number of areas with a Map available that guides you round and gives information on each section.

The Gardens give an insight into just how much Money and Time went into designing them with Plants and Trees imported from around the World by Early Explorers, no expense spared.

The Sculpture Garden is the most impressive section, in front of the Mansion House.

Threave House was completed in 1873 for William Gordon, a Liverpool businessman. The impressive Stables were completed in 1872.

The House, Gardens and vast Estate were donated to the National Trust for Scotland by Major Alan F. Gordon in 1948.

Guided Tours are available certain days throughout the Summer, and it can be booked for Weddings and Functions.

The Secrete Gardens are next to the Sculpture Gardens, and Pond next them.

The large Walled Garden is still used to grow Vegetable and Fruit. These High Walls kept the cold winds out and Heat in, creating ideal growing conditions for much of the year.

Most other estates have converted their Walled Gardens into scenic Show Gardens, so is good to see one that is still used as intended.

Next to the Walled Garden and Visitor Centre are large Pots built up of many small pieces of Slate.

The Lands of the Estate are huge covering the area around Threave Castle 2 miles north and the scenic Loch Ken 8 miles north.

Loch Ken is popular for Holiday Parks and Water Sports.

The area at Threave Castle has a number of Birds of Prey , these include Peregrine Falcons in the Castle, Ospreys and Buzzards in Trees by the Castle.

Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys and Buzzards are about the same size with Wingspans around four feet.

Ospreys feed on Fish, Peregrine Falcons on Birds, and Buzzards on Small Mammals, so each can be recognised by their distinctive Hunting Styles.