Earlshall Castle

Earlshall Castle gardens are one of Fife’s hidden gems. Nora McElhone caught up with gardener Nicky McIntyre to find out more

Gardener Nicky McIntyre on Fife’s hidden gem.

Current owners of Earlshall, Paul and Josine Veenhuijzen, bought into a little bit of Scottish history when they purchased the castle, which is near Leuchars.

The original castle was built in 1546. By the 1880s it was a ruin, and underwent a major restoration project. The present gardens are closely based on Scottish architect and designer Robert Lorimer’s design, which features lots of “room” within a 3.5-acre walled garden.

Nicky said: “It is basically split in three, one third productive, one third topiary and one third lawn and borders.

“The thought that went into the garden, along with its many features, allows you to get lost in a sense of history.”

Nicky has gardened at Earlshall for almost 16 years. In that time, big renovations have been done to yew hedges and holly, the lawns have been improved and the variety of plants expanded. The herb plots have been replanted and fruit trees – some of which are 130 years old – maintained.

“We try to grow different and new varieties some are a success, others a failure. If it wants to grow here it will. We work to Lorimer’s architectural plantings, though now the garden is more informal,” said Nicky.

The property has been part of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme for more than half a century and for Nicky, welcoming visitors to Earlshall is a real treat.

“For me as the gardener, it is lovely to see other people’s enjoyment in something I take for granted every day,” she said.

“So many different kinds of visitors come along, from the kids playing hide and seek to people that visit gardens every weekend to the guy around the corner that didn’t know it was here and people whose relatives have worked here so they want to visit for themselves.

“I get a huge amount of satisfaction that they have taken the time to come. In a way it’s like a secret garden. You have no idea what is here until you walk through the gate.

“Earlshall is a beautiful, serene garden. It has numerous axes, all of which draw the eye to a new focal point. No two paths are the same, no two gates are the same. Everything is individual.

“There is fruit in abundance, blossoms to die for and wildflowers are allowed to creep in and live alongside cultivated plants. I am privileged to be a caretaker for this garden.”

Visit: scotlandsgardens.org/earlshall-castle/