Headline photo

Headline photo
Rockcliffe and Kippford from South Glen Brae: Ed Iglehart [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Introductory text

Kippford and Rockcliffe are on the East Stewartry Coast, an unspoilt National Scenic Area with two other NSAs in close proximity. It is in Dumfries & Galloway, South West Scotland, a region known for it's wonderful scenery, biodiversity, turbulent history, smugglers and black and white 'belted' cattle known as Galloway Belties. This stretch of coastline has many names. Known locally as the Colvend Coast or the 'Secret Coast' (due to the peace and tranquility) it is often referred to as the 'Scottish Riviera' due to it being the holiday resort of choice for Victorian millionaires and having a Gulf Stream influenced microclimate: evidenced by palm trees in some gardens. Castle Douglas, the food town is a short drive away and Kirkcudbright, the Artists Town is over the next headland.


This a scenic and unique part of the world and we started the blog to share the experience of living in this wonderful place. We hope that it will be of interest to others who live here and give those planning to visit the area a taste of all it has to offer.


The blog has a correspondent in both Kippford and Rockcliffe village, you can also follow their Twitter feeds on the right of the page. If you would like to get involved we look forward to hearing from you.

Sunday, 13 May 2012

A well kept secret on the Colvend Coast


Having heard rave reviews from guests who had stumbled across the Walled Garden at Shambellie, today I decided  to take the scenic, coastal road to New Abbey and see for myself. I had been told of the many hours of work that Sheila Cameron, and her brother Euan, had put in to bring this abandoned overgrown garden back to life and was amazed at the sanctuary they have created hidden away in the woods. Formarly the walled garden for Shambellie House (The home of the National Museum of Costume: Click here for more information) the Victorian garden was abandoned back in the 1960s and it has taken six years of hard work and dedication to re-landscape and plant.



There is a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and, talking to Sheila about her private garden which she opens to the public for free, (please make a donation if you visit to keep this wonderful place going) you can see she takes pleasure in sharing this beautiful space and describes it as somewhere for people to learn, sit and enjoy the plants and most of all find inspiration.




The planting style is informal and full; mixed with a selection of hardy trees shrubs and perennials chosen to suit the cool, wet conditions of South West Scotland.

Sheila is a plant expert and now sells a wide variety of flowers and plants from the once derelict greenhouse and garden offering advice and assistance to her visitors. She was brilliant and gave us some very useful advice on planting for a coastal garden. As a result we went away with armfuls of plants and lots of enthusiasm. 

Its the sort of garden that I want to visit regularly  to see how it develops and changes throughout the season.


Sheila and her Spaniel in the greenhouse

Thank you Sheila for sharing your little piece of paradise. I look forward to visiting again  soon.

Shambellie Walled Garden and Plant Sales is open

Sat Sun Mon
10am to 4pm
April to October
Entry free with donations welcomed.
Beeswing Road New Abbey DG2 8DT


(Please do not take your dogs into the garden)

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Location: A710, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway DG2, UK

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