Walks and gardens
Branklyn Garden
() from Rosyth | () from South Queensferry | () from Leith | () from Newhaven | () from Dundee
A hidden gem of Himalayan horticulture – in Scotland! This famous garden was designed and first planted in the early 1920s by John and Dorothy Renton. The SW facing slope and sheltered position favours the cultivation of many Himalayan plants – no small feat in Scottish weather. Rhododendrons, Himalayan Blue Poppies and an array of Lilies thrive here. There are plants for sale, a gift shop and the elegant Branklyn Tea Room with home-made scones, teas and coffee.
Perth | www.nts.org.uk
Culross Palace
9.2mi (18min) from Rosyth | 14.2mi (26min) from South Queensferry | 24.2mi (45min) from Leith | 24.0mi (44min) from Newhaven | 52.9mi (1hr 12min) from Dundee
Culross Palace, which dates from 1597, has been lovingly and sympathetically restored so you can imagine what it would have been like to live in splendour.
Culross | 08444 932189 | culross@nts.org.uk | www.nts.org.uk
Dundee Waterfront Walks
43.8mi (57min) from Rosyth | 48.0mi (1hr 4min) from South Queensferry | 56.3mi (1hr 22min) from Leith | 55.6mi (1hr 19min) from Newhaven | 1.7mi (6min) from Dundee
Join passionate and knowledgeable local tour guide Alastair Derrick, as he leads you on a fascinating guided walk through Dundee’s often turbulent, sometimes funny, but always fascinating history. RRS Discovery and Captain Scott`s story is a speciality as we walk beside the River Tay. No entry to any museums or attractions is included in the price. ​Alastair’s friendly manner will ensure you have an enjoyable time as you learn
Dundee | dundeewaterfrontwalks@gmail.com | www.dundeewaterfrontwalks.scot
Ferry Glen
5.7mi (14min) from Rosyth | 0.5mi (2min) from South Queensferry | 12.0mi (26min) from Leith | 9.7mi (24min) from Newhaven | 47.8mi (1hr 3min) from Dundee
Ferry Glen is the area of land and woodland to the north of Station Road and south of the public pathway (formerly the railway track).
South Queensferry | 0131 529 7440 | sfc.westneighbourhood@edinburgh.gov.uk | www.ferryglen.org.uk
Fife Coastal Path
The Fife Coastal Path runs from the Forth Estuary and stretches north for 117 miles.The path is clearly marked and offers a range of walking experiences from flat and easy to wild and demanding.
Tour | 01592 656080 | ask.us@fifecountryside.co.uk | www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk
Fife Pilgrim Way Walks
18.5mi (25min) from Rosyth | 22.7mi (32min) from South Queensferry | 30.8mi (50min) from Leith | 30.3mi (46min) from Newhaven | 29.9mi (47min) from Dundee
Guided walks along the Fife Pilgrim Way with Duncan, the Pilgrim Pastor, which will give an opportunity to discover something of the history and spiritual heritage of the Pilgrimage Kingdom of Fife as well as taking in the beauty of this area and its gentle undulating landscape. There will also be opportunities to reflect on what motivated pilgrims past and present.
Kirkcaldy | 01592 656080 | pilgrimpastorfife@gmail.com | fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk
Floors Castle and Gardens
Explore Floors Castle & Gardens, Built by leading architect William Adam in 1721, Floors Castle is Scotland’s largest inhabited Castle and home to the 10th Duke of Roxburghe. The Castle is filled with outstanding works of art, magnificent French furniture and the famous Belgian tapestries. The grand rooms offer superb views of the River Tweed and Cheviot Hills. The Walled Garden is a showpiece of seasonal colour and interest and features colourful themed borders, decorative shrubs, traditional glasshouses filled with delicious fruits and recent developments in the Garden include the dramatic oak framed fruit cage & new Tapestry Garden.
Tour | +4401 573223333 | enquiries@floorscastle.com | www.floorscastle.com
Helix
Covering 850 Hectares of green space in Falkirk and Grangemouth, the Heix is a beautiful new visitor destination including the Kelpies, miles of scenic cycle paths, parkland with impressive lagoon and from 2014 waterside cafe and adventure playzone
Tour | www.thehelix.co.uk
Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse and Garden
31.5mi (51min) from Rosyth | 33.5mi (50min) from South Queensferry | 43.5mi (1hr 9min) from Leith | 42.5mi (1hr 3min) from Newhaven | 17.0mi (31min) from Dundee
An Edwardian mansion and mecca for golfers Hill of Tarvit was originally known as Wemyss Hall. In 1904, the new owner, Frederick Sharp, commissioned architect Robert Lorimer to transform the 17th-century house into a modern 20th-century mansion to display his amazing collection of fine art, porcelain and many other items. When the Sharp family moved into Hill of Tarvit, they had electricity, telephones connecting each room and central heating.
Cupar | 08444 932185 | www.nts.org.uk
Hopetoun House
8.3mi (21min) from Rosyth | 2.8mi (8min) from South Queensferry | 14.7mi (32min) from Leith | 13.8mi (33min) from Newhaven | 48.5mi (1hr 6min) from Dundee
Hopetoun House is a beautiful historic house dating from the 17th century and still lived in by Lord Hopetoun and his family.
South Queensferry | 0131 331 2451 | www.hopetoun.co.uk
House of the Binns
Set in beautifully landscaped parkland overlooking the River Forth, this 17th-century laird’s house near Linlithgow has been the home of the Dalyell family for 400 years.The present house was built in 1612 by Thomas Dalyell, an Edinburgh merchant who had made his fortune at the court of King James VI and I in London. In 1944, the Dalyell family gifted the house, its contents and the parkland, along with an endowment, to the National Trust for Scotland under its Country House Scheme, keeping the right of the family to live in the house. The house was gifted to the NTS in 1944, along with the parkland, contents and an endowment, under the Country House Scheme by Eleanor Dalyell and her son Tam Dalyell, who retained the right of the family to live in the house and contribute towards the upkeep and maintenance in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland. 15 minutes from South Queensferry by taxi
Tour | 01506 830175 | www.nts.org.uk
John Muir Way
The John Muir Way is accessible to cruise passengers, as it passes the arrival points at Leith, Newhaven and South Queensferry. It is only a short distance from Rosyth.
Tour | 08453 700067 | http://johnmuirway.org/contact | johnmuirway.org
Linlithgow Palace
28.5mi (45min) from Rosyth | 9.0mi (18min) from South Queensferry | 20.8mi (45min) from Leith | 19.8mi (38min) from Newhaven | 54.2mi (1hr 13min) from Dundee
Built and developed over two centuries by successive Stuart kings of Scotland, Linlithgow Palace was a comfortable and attractive retreat from affairs of state, conveniently placed between Stirling and Edinburgh. Both James V and his daughter Mary Queen of Scots were born here, overlooking the tranquil beauty of the loch and peel (park). This superb Renaissance residence allows a unique insight into the domestic life of Scottish royalty.
Linlithgow | 01506 842896 | trade@hes.scot | www.historicenvironment.scot
Pittencrieff House Museum and Park
4.8mi (12min) from Rosyth | 8.7mi (17min) from South Queensferry | 18.6mi (36min) from Leith | 17.7mi (35min) from Newhaven | 42.6mi (1hr 2min) from Dundee
This 17th century mansion house is set in beautiful parkland and houses an accessible display called Magic of the Glen which celebrates the magic of the park and explains how the park came to be - a story involving fossils and furry creatures covering 350 million years.
Dunfermline | 01383 722935 | www.fife.gov.uk
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
13.6mi (26min) from Rosyth | 8.3mi (21min) from South Queensferry | 2.5mi (10min) from Leith | 1.9mi (7min) from Newhaven | 55.7mi (1hr 18min) from Dundee
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, or 'The Botanics' as we are locally known is one of the world's leading botanic gardens. A pleasure for everyone, our Living Collection of plants & trees are set in over 70 acres of beautiful landscape and also offers a stunning view of the city skyline. The garden highlights include the Rock Garden, Herbaceous Border, Woodland Garden, Chinese Hillside, our Pond, Rhododendron Collection, Scottish Native Plants Collection in our Heath Garden and our famous Arboretum of trees. Visitors cannot help but leave with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the importance of plants in our world, and the need to support the Garden's important work.
Edinburgh | +4413 12482909 | www.rbge.org.uk
St Andrews Botanic Garden
38.5mi (1hr 3min) from Rosyth | 40.5mi (1hr 2min) from South Queensferry | 50.5mi (1hr 21min) from Leith | 49.5mi (1hr 18min) from Newhaven | 14.4mi (27min) from Dundee
St Andrews Botanic Garden is a hidden gem which is well worth taking the time to discover.
St Andrews | 01334 476452 | StAndrews.Botanic@fife.gov.uk | www.st-andrews-botanic.org
St Andrews Old Course Walks
Join an expert guide on a tour of the world's most famous golf course. Your tour will take place around the 1st, 17th and 18th holes of the Old Course where you will be able to walk in the footsteps of icons of the game and experience a player's eye view of the fabled links.
Tour | www.standrews.com
Tantallon Castle
50.2mi (1hr 5min) from Rosyth | 46.3mi (58min) from South Queensferry | 30.7mi (47min) from Leith | 31.3mi (49min) from Newhaven | 92.3mi (1hr 53min) from Dundee
Tantallon is a formidable stronghold set atop the cliffs of the Firth of Forth. It was the seat of Douglas Earls of Angus, one of the most powerful baronial families in Scotland. Come and explore this 4 star attraction.
North Berwick | 0131 668 8831 | hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Teasses Estate
30.2mi (44min) from Rosyth | 33.2mi (49min) from South Queensferry | 42.5mi (1hr 9min) from Leith | 42.0mi (1hr 5min) from Newhaven | () from Dundee
Teasses Estate is set in the Heart of Fife, ten miles in-land from Saint Andrews and fifty minutes from the centre of Edinburgh. The estate has undergone extensive renovation over the last twenty years, the owners, together with their family and staff have restored the 1,100 acre estate to the spectacular landscape and gardens you see today. Teasses boasts sixty acres of stunning and horticulturally interesting gardens. The wider estate is home to some of Scotland’s most secretive native fauna, such as the red squirrel and roe deer. The estate's hundreds of acres of organic pasture produces top quality beef and lamb.
Ceres | +4479 66529205 | craig@teasses.com | www.teasses.com
Tentsmuir Nature Reserve
45.3mi (1hr 8min) from Rosyth | 47.2mi (1hr 7min) from South Queensferry | 57.3mi (1hr 26min) from Leith | 57.1mi (1hr 23min) from Newhaven | 10.4mi (22min) from Dundee
Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve and Eden Estuary Local Nature Reserve are recognised internationally for their very special habitats and for the rich variety of plants, birds, insects and other animals which they support.
near Leuchars | 01382 553962 | tay.fd@forestry.gsi.gov.uk | www.tentsmuir.org
Thirlestane Castle
45.6mi (1hr 4min) from Rosyth | 41.7mi (56min) from South Queensferry | 27.8mi (47min) from Leith | 28.3mi (50min) from Newhaven | 87.7mi (1hr 49min) from Dundee
Thirlestane Castle nestles in the hills of the beautiful Scottish Borders just 35 minutes south of Edinburgh.
Lauder | 01578 722430 | enquiries@thirlestanecastle.co.uk | www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk
Water of Leith Conservation Trust
13.7mi (30min) from Rosyth | 8.7mi (23min) from South Queensferry | 6.0mi (21min) from Leith | 5.6mi (24min) from Newhaven | 55.8mi (1hr 18min) from Dundee
Only 5 minutes from the cruise terminal at Leith, you can start your exploration of the Water of Leith. Explore Edinburgh's history from the river that run's through it's heart. A four mile walk will take you to the city centre through a nature wonderland, and you can always get a bus or taxi back . Pick up a map or leaflet in the terminal.
Edinburgh | 0131 455 7367 | admin@waterofleith.org.uk | www.waterofleith.org.uk
