There's no better time than summer to get out and visit a scenic garden, and fortunately Scotland is bursting with them.
From the Glasgow Botanic Gardens to Branklyn Garden in Perthshire, there are countless beauty spots both within the country's cities and scattered around its many towns and villages. You really can't go wrong with any of them, but if you're near Edinburgh this summer, then Dunbar's Close Garden is well worth checking out.
While the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is undoubtedly the largest and most spectacular in the capital, you may be keen to avoid the crowds and head to a garden that is a bit more hidden, and if this is the case then Dunbar's Close is a must-visit.
Tucked away in the heart of the city's Old Town, it is found off of the Royal Mile in one of its many small alleys. It can be easy to walk past Dunbar's Close Garden without even realising it is there.
Despite the unassuming entrance, the garden is in fact open to the public — and provides a haven away from the hustle and bustle of the Royal Mile. Although it was created in the 1970s, it has been designed to look like a 17th century garden, which only adds to its calming atmosphere.
The garden is divided into eight distinct areas, with the vast majority of plants found within being commonplace in the 17th century. Among the gorgeous flowers on display over summer are honeysuckle, snapdragons, and African lilies, while there are also strawberry trees, whitebeam trees, and a tulip tree.
Thankfully, there are a number of benches scattered around the pocket garden, making it the perfect spot to sit and relax amid a busy day walking around Edinburgh.
The name of the garden is thought to come from Edinburgh solicitor and writer David Dunbar, who owned the property back in the 18th century. It was developed by the Mushroom Trust, who funded landscape architect Seamus Filor to design it.
Rather than attempting to recreate exactly what a garden in the 17th century would have looked like, Filor instead wanted to capture the general vibe and atmosphere of the time.
The secluded garden has a rating of 4.5 out of five on travel website TripAdvisor, with visitors leaving rave reviews of their time there.
One wrote: "Beautiful hidden gardens located off the royal mile, perfect setting for a stroll to view this lovely serene environment which is so well looked after and take in some quiet time away from the hustle & bustle of main street."
A second echoed: "A beautiful hidden gem just down Canongate from the Royal Mile on the left hand side, blink and you could miss it.
"There is a little plaque on the wall when you arrive. The garden is a lovely quiet oasis and well worth a visit."
Meanwhile, a third shared: "What a wonderful little garden, a quiet spot, so clean and tidy. Some unusual plants a good selection of old fashioned plants."
If you're keen to visit Dunbar's Close Garden yourself this summer, you can find it at 137 Canongate in Edinburgh. The garden opens at 7am and closes at 7.30pm over the summer.
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