RoYAL boTANiC gARdEN

EDINburGH

What do you fancy seeing today? Is it manicured gardens of picturepostcard prettiness?

Maybe you’re in the mood for something more wild, rural-feeling and natural.

Or perhaps some totally tropical plants are what you have in mind.

Well, head to the Royal Botanic Garden and you can see them all. There’s such an extensive array of greenery here that it’s hard to know where to begin.

But you can’t beat the glasshouses for sheer variety and breathtaking loveliness.

They are huge and so are some of the plants in there. Kids will let their imaginations run wild within the tropical areas. To them, it’s a jungle in there!

Don’t miss the world-famous Rock Garden, either. It’s home to 5000 alpine plants and an amazing 165m-long herbaceous border. That in itself is backed by an outstanding century-old beech hedge.

You see? So much to see, so much to drink in. The Botanics are glorious at any time but spring is acknowledged to be one of the best.

That’s mainly down to its famous rhododendrons. From small shrubs to trees, they provide a bloom of colour that’s unforgettable.

With events, exhibitions and a terrace cafe that’s perfect for a sunny-afternoon drink, the Royal Botanics isn’t so much a garden as an Edinburgh institution. No matter how often you visit, you’ll always find something new.