Today is overcast with patches of rain (not complaining, we desperately need it), a total contrast from last Sunday when I spent a hot and sunny afternoon exploring the gardens around Falkland Palace. The town of Falkland is a former royal burgh, and has recently risen to fame by standing in as 1940s Inverness during the filming of Outlander. It is a stunningly well-kept village blessed with charming old houses, beautiful gardens, and sweeping views over Fife towards St Andrews – all nestled in the lee of the Lomond Hills, specifically East Lomond.
East Lomond from the palace orchard
The palace itself was a favourite retreat of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland from James I onwards, with the forests nearby used for hunting. Most of the Jameses and Mary, Queen of Scots all visited regularly, at least partly I am sure due to Falkland’s proximity to Perth, Stirling, Linlithgow and Edinburgh. While there is evidence of a garden here since the mid-1400s, the present garden was re-designed in the 1940s by famous horticulturalist Percy Cane.
The National Trust for Scotland took charge in 1952, and in recent years, there has been an increased effort to bring back meadow land, to encourage growth of wild flowers and the bee population which is always in danger.
I had been thinking for some time of a visit to the palace gardens, and managed to coincide with the Falkland Open Garden weekend, meaning there were plenty of like-minded people around, and that the town itself was far busier than I think I have ever seen it. Nonetheless, I managed to find a parking spot on the edge of the Falkland Estate, and walked back through town to the palace, which does offer garden-only entry. The palace itself is of course worth a visit, but I had been in before and on this occasion did not have the time for a full exploration.
To enter the garden, you go through the impressive main palace gate, and from there, it was up to me and my camera to wander around and enjoy.
I started off in the orchard, which offered lovely views of the hill and town, as well as the Willow Queen, who stands on her own amidst the wildflowers and apparently represents Mary, Queen of Scots.
From the orchard and meadow I returned to the gardens proper and explored the walled garden, where there were rows and rows of iris – my grandmother’s favourite – and peonies just a few days off blooming.
I realised as I walked up towards the palace again that I was probably a few weeks too late for some of the best spring flowers – lilacs, wisteria, and flowering trees were all a bit past – and a touch too early for summer roses, but that really only means I have to return before too many more weeks have passed.
I should clarify, the bottom two images above including the pink trees were taken several years ago, earlier in the year. After taking my fill of garden and palace pictures, I made my way through the gift shop and, resisting the ice cream on sale in several locations, made my way back through town. I had time to spare, so detoured down along the Maspie Burn as it run alongside houses and an old mill, before finally taking me to a play park
From there I cut back up the hill to the main road, and back to Falkland Estate car park. It was just too hot and buggy to explore the estate itself, though I have done before and will certainly write about it soon!
Even with regular stops for pictures I managed a good walk and a few extra freckles from the sun, though as I stood on the palace wall I could see clouds gathering along the distant coastline. Fortunately they stayed off-shore until later in the evening. I am looking forward to my return to Falkland in the season of rhododendron (just out now as I write) and of course, roses.
The Wandering Medievalist 
One response to “Falkland Palace Gardens”
I always loved our walks through the Falkland Palace and gardens as well as the town! So happy to see the beautiful flowering gardens!
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