Garden tourism group, Discover Scottish Gardens, has launched a printed map of Scotland to encourage locals and tourists to visit gardens and attractions throughout the country.
Over 130 gardens are listed on the map, from public and private gardens to woodlands, plant nurseries and accommodation with gardens to explore.
Gardens featured in Ayrshire and Arran include Blair Estate, Brodick Castle, Dumfries House, Culzean Castle and Country Park and Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.
According to the Moffat Centre’s Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor 2017, visits to Scottish gardens increased 10.9% from 2016 to 2017. Research also highlights there are more opportunities to grow the number of international visitors, which currently make up only 6% of garden visitors to Scotland annually.
Catherine Erskine, Chair of Discover Scottish Gardens, said: “Our brand-new map of Scotland will help locals and tourists discover the beautiful and varied gardens Ayrshire and Arran has to offer. We want people to be inspired by Scotland’s breathtaking scenery and learn more about our diverse climate and plant collections that thrive here.
“Scottish gardens are a huge asset and we continually strive to maximise on the potential to grow their popularity. The new map will equip visitors with a list of some of the best gardens in the region, helping them make the most of their visit, or for locals, discover something new right on their doorstep. They can even create their own ‘garden route’ within Scotland. With the amazing weather we’ve been experiencing recently, now is the perfect time to pick up a map and go exploring.”
The maps can be picked up from shopping centres, bus stations, hotels, gifts shops, tourist attractions and information sites across the country.
