Dirleton is a village of gardening contrasts. Many of the small houses surrounding the village green and hidden down lanes off the green have charming cottage gardens filled in summer with such traditional flowers as foxgloves, hollyhocks and roses, whereas Dirleton Castle is famous for what is reputed to be the longest herbaceous border in the world. In Spring the village green and verges come alive with crocus and daffodils and there are plenty of spreading trees around the green to provide autumn colour and dramatic winter shapes. One particular feature of the village green in summer is the hanging baskets, the result of a lot of effort in raising funds at the village fete through the organisation of a plant stall, and then a rota of volunteers keeping them well watered.

Every other year the village opens its gardens as part of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme and over two weekend afternoons in June you can explore a variety of gardens throughout the village, enjoy tea in the Kirk Hall and your entry fee benefits the charities chosen for support. The Dirleton Village Gardens will next be open on Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in June 2024.

Gardeners in Dirleton are keen visitors to a number of Garden Centres and Suppliers nearby, which can often be accompanied by a tasty tea or snack.

As well as the gardens of Dirleton Castle, there are a number of beautiful local gardens regularly open to the public and well worth a visit.  See The Gardens to visit section