Some of Scotland’s most beautiful and unusual trees will be celebrated once again this autumn as the Scottish Tree Festival returns for its second year.

Mount Stuart Estate on the Isle of Bute © VisitScotland

Organised by garden tourism group Discover Scottish Gardens and supported by VisitScotland, the festival aims to inspire tourists and local people to enjoy the autumn splendours of Scotland’s spectacular array of woodlands and gardens. 
 
Over 70 events are being held across Scotland from 28th September to 1st December, from Attadale Gardens in the Highlands to Kailzie Gardens in the Scottish Borders, showcasing Scotland’s heritage, exotic and champion trees.  
 
The Scottish Tree Festival returns after a highly successful first year with continued participation from the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), Historic Environment Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
 
Eight new NTS sites have joined the festival including Balmerino Abbey, Branklyn Garden, Drum Castle, Fyvie Castle, Glencoe Woodland, Inverewe Garden, Kellie Castle and Hill of Tarvit, offering a range of guided garden and woodland walks, tree trails and tree workshops. 
  
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh returns to the festival with a host of garden guided walks and an exhibition celebrating the wonders of wood, along with its Regional Gardens Dawyck, known for spectacular autumn colour, Benmore and Logan Botanic Garden.  

Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said: “I am thrilled to see the Scottish Tree Festival return for its second year. With over 70 events taking place across the country this festival offers an opportunity for visitors to experience Scotland’s rich autumn colours and reflect on the importance of the longest living species on Earth.”

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, added: “Scotland has some of the most magnificent trees and woodland in the United Kingdom and there’s no denying that autumn is one of the best times to visit. The Scottish Tree Festival provides the perfect excuse to explore the spectacular landscapes, woodland and parks of Scotland.”

Other highlights of this year’s festival include The Enchanted Forest, a pioneering sound and light show exploring the autumn woodland of Faskally Wood near Pitlochry, Floors Castle & Gardens in Kelso with its 200 year old oak trees and Scotland’s very first monkey puzzle tree, and the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses, Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland, where visitors can enjoy picking apples in the garden and drinking the fresh juice. 
 
If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made garden tour or autumn woodland tour of Scotland, or indeed the rest of the UK and Ireland, please do contact our friendly team. We can put together the ideal itinerary which takes in the attractions that most interest you, as well as the best accommodation to meet your needs.