Scotland the best
There’s more to just open spaces in Scotland’s best parks - cafes, play areas and gardens abound!
Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
This former loch, drained when the New Town was built to become a pleasure ground for “the people” in perpetuity. The eastern half has pitch and putt, the Scott Monument and, well, Christmas. The western has its recently restored fountain, open-air café, space for locals and tourists to sprawl on the grass when sunny, the Ross Bandstand – heart of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay – and about to be turned into a proper amphitheatre.
Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline
Extensive park alongside the abbey and palace ruins, gifted to the town in 1903 by Andrew Carnegie. Open areas, glasshouses pavilion and café, peacocks, but most notably a deep verdant glen crisscrossed with pathways. Great kids’ play area. Lush, full of birds, good after rain, the Park and exploration of Dunfermline’s Heritage Quarter, the Abbey and the Carnegie Library, with Richard Murphy’s award-winning extension, can make for an elevating afternoon.
Duthie Park, Aberdeen
Riverside Drive along River Dee from the bridge carrying main A92 Stonehaven road. It’s a large well-kept park with duck pond, bandstand, hugely impressive summer rose gardens, carved sculptures and the famous Winter Gardens of subtropical palms/ferns and home to one of the UK’S biggest cacti collections.
Rouken Glen & Linn Park, Glasgow
Both on south side of river. Rouken Glen via Pollokshaws/kilmarnock Rd to Eastwood Toll then right. Visitor area with info centre, garden centre, a café, kids’ play area and woodland walks. Linn Park via Aikenhead and Carmunnock road. It’s a journey but worth it – this is one of the undiscovered Elysiums of a city that boasts more than 60 parks. Activities include wildlife walks, kids’ nature trails, horse-riding and Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s Holmwood House