Beautiful and Historic Ellon Castle Gardens.
Welcome to our website featuring the beautiful and historic Ellon Castle Gardens, set right in the heart of Ellon. While the old Ellon Castle dates back to the 15th century, the Gardens reached their current size in the early 18th century and in their time, were some of the finest in Scotland. They contain a unique collection of ancient English yews thought to be at least 500 years old. However, in more recent times, the structures and horticultural elements within have been allowed to fall into disrepair and neglect.
Get Involved
The support we get from members and volunteers is vital to our continued success. Membership fees partially offset our operational costs and volunteers are helping to restore the gardens. We encourage everyone to think about becoming a member, volunteer or donor.
Historical
The narrative of the old Castle is interwoven with historical events of local, regional and national significance. There are tales of a dispute between neighbours that ended in murder, a mistress in the Castle, a secret tunnel and disillusioned Jacobite supporters.
Achievements
So far we have … tamed 30 years of neglected vegetation; installed drainage and utilities throughout the gardens; made safe all the garden walls; and in 2019 we planted up the western border, opened to the public, rented an office in Ellon and acquired the Deer Park.
news
Norse Tales Beneath the Ancient Yew Trees
Local storyteller, P.D. Brown, will captivate us with his performance of the entire cycle of Norse myths that appears in the Eddas and elsewhere, from...
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: theatre in the gardens
What happens when a tale of fairies and mayhem meets a magical garden in the heart of Ellon? Join us on 27th July 2022 at...
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Easter Fun Day
Join us for some Easter fun on the 17th April! There will be an egg decorating activity and egg rolling, Easter races and an Easter...
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Winter Opening
The Gardens are currently closed for the winter. We will open in late February for our annual Snowdrop Festival. More details coming soon!
Read MoreVisit Us
Gardens
Opening Hours:
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 – 15:00
Tuesdays 11:00 – 15:00
Thursday evenings, 18:30 – 20:30
The entry fee is £4 for visitors
(free for members and children).
Dogs on leads are welcome.
Office
Opening Hours:
The shop is open Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 12:00
Where to find us
Office Address:
11 The Square, Ellon AB41 9JB
The Garden entrance is next to the Health Centre, off Schoolhill.
Support us
Giving a donation or leaving a legacy in your will are ways of making a lasting contribution to Ellon Castle Gardens. Currently, we have a number of small to medium-sized projects that could be executed with funds or donations raised from within the community.
In addition, you could donate a garden bench in memory of a loved one. If you are interested in pursuing one of these options, then please speak to a Board member or click on the Donate button below to complete our online information form.
Contact us
Office Address:
11 The Square, Ellon AB41 9JB
Phone:
01358 747346