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1st May - 1st Sunday in Oct; 7 Days a week;
10am - 5.30pm with last admission to castle & gardens at 5
Welcome
Guided tours must be booked in advance.
1st May - 1st Sunday in Oct; 7 Days a week;
10am - 5.30pm with last admission to castle at 5pm
Adult £10.70; Child (5-15) £6.70; Over 60s & Disabled £9.70; Student £9.70; Family (2A +5C) £31
Adult parties (+12) £9.20; Children's parties £6;
Gardens, Grounds & Nature Trail: £6.00
Adult friends of Cawdor Castle Gardens Membership £18.00.
9-hole Golf Course Day Ticket £12.50; (adult) £6 (child)
Putting Green - (£3.50 per round)
Disabled Access: Partial access only to interior of castle,but full access to gardens.
Romantic castle, dating from the 14th century, overlooking an intimate series of beautifully kept gardens and extensive woodland. Visit Scotland Grade: Five Star
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In 1981 Lord Cawdor decided to remodel the kitchen garden and plant a holly maze. The pattern for this was taken from a design set in the mosaic floor of the ruined Roman villa of Conimbriga in Portugal, and which in classical form depicts the Minotaur's labyrinth at Knossos in Crete, a conundrum devised, mythologically, by Daedelus. In the second half of the garden is a paradise garden, knot garden and a thistle garden, as well as an orchard that has been planted with old Scottish fruit trees.
The flower garden was originally designed for enjoyment in late summer and autumn, but this garden's season has been extended to give pleasure from early spring, with bulbs, bedding plants, herbaceous borders, ornamental trees and shrubs all providing delight. The wild garden on the stream bank of the Cawdor Burn gives another contrast; and beyond, conveniently marked paths lead in to Cawdor wood: a mixed forest that is one of the finest and most beautiful in Europe.
The castle dates from the 14th century and has been lived in by the family in a direct line ever since. The Cawdors have been keen gardeners over generations.
The oldest garden north east of the castle was enclosed with walls and bastions in 1620, and cultivated in the old-fashioned manner where soft-fruit, flowers and vegetables and orchards were mingled closely together. The flower garden, south of the castle, was laid out a full century later, again in the old style. Later still, in 1850, Lady Cawdor added the oval rose-beds, edged with lavender, thus changing the framework towards formality.