Blog: a round-up of the best events and festivals for galanthophiles
It’s the time of year the galanthophiles love and here are the best snowdrop festivals and events to look out for.
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire, Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB25 9EJ
There are around 400 snowdrop cultivars, some specific to Anglesey Abbey. Join a Specialist Collection tour around the 114 acres – booking is essential. Tours run Monday – Friday and Sundays from January 27 to February 28; nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey.
Barnhill Rock Garden Snowdrop Wood, The Esplanade, Broughty Ferry, Dundee
February 14-March 10. The woodland area was revamped several years ago and renamed the Snowdrop Wood. Thousands of snowdrops have since been planted. This display is complimented by a splash of Aconities and Snowflakes which is a welcomed sight in spring.
Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AH
Look for displays of common snowdrops and many rare and unusual varieties. The Geoff Hamilton Winter Border, Penstemon and Hosta Beds, A Cutting Garden, Country Paradise Garden and Memorial Garden play host to some of the most unusual varieties. Don’t miss the chance to attend engaging talks with snowdrop expert Gill Hadland on February 11 and February 14th.
You can also attend Winter and Snowdrops: Breakfast and a Guided Walk. After breakfast, enjoy an exclusive tour with Nick Hamilton. Book this guided walk event for February 11 or February 14 at: shop.barnsdalegardens.co.uk.
Snowdrop festivals and events – The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD
Visitors can collect a printed snowdrop walk to guide them around the moat banks carpeted with snowdrops, and across the Willow Bridge to the Arboretum. Taking place throughout weekends in February, bishopspalace.org.uk.
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PS
With 2,000 acres to explore, Britain’s Greatest Palace has masses of snowdrops. Stroll around the Formal Gardens, the Water Terraces, the Duke’s Private Italian Garden, the Secret Garden, the Churchill Memorial Garden and Rose Garden.
The Park Perimeter is ideal for those looking for a longer route, fringed by the High Park woodland complete with Blenheim Estate’s ancient oaks and wildlife. Enjoy the short uphill walk to the Column of Victory. For more information about Blenheim Palace and to book tickets, visit www.blenheimpalace.com.
Snowdrop festivals and events – Cambo Country House and Estate, Kingsbarns, St Andrews
Cambo’s Snowdrop Festival, now in its 16th year, runs throughout February and early March. The estate is the birthplace of this annual snowdrop celebration and home to the UK’s Plant Heritage national collection of snowdrops. A haven for ‘galanthophiles’, about 200 specialist snowdrop varieties carpet the estate. Yo can buy snowdrops ‘in the green’ to take home. Cambo House will also host a series of live music events from the ‘Cambo Kitchen’. For more information about the house tours and events, please visit www.cambogardens.org.uk or www.camboestate.com.
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS
London’s oldest botanic garden has 75 types of snowdrops and enjoy its ‘Heralding Spring’ event. Pick up a map and follow the trail around the garden. Open throughout January and February, apart from Saturdays, www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk.
Cluny House, By Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2JT – Snowdrops and Red Squirrels
February 14-March 12. Not only are there white carpets of snowdrops to see but also many Hellebores, Leucojums (Snowflakes), yellow Aconites, early species Crocus and the gorgeous scent of Sweet Box filling the garden. The Squirrels are very busy at this time of year building dreys and visiting the feeders.
Cringletie Estate, Edinburgh Road, Peebles EH45 8PL – Snow Drop’in to Cringletie
February 7-March 16. Take a stroll through the woodlands, where you’ll find thousands of snowdrops. Upon your return, drop into the hotel for a coffee and scone or afternoon tea (booking essential).
Snowdrop festivals and events – Fingask Castle, Rait PH2 7SA
January 20-March 6. Opening Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays only, Fingask Castle is Scotland’s only surrealist garden. Topiary, stone globes, marble balls, statues and a figure of Alice (in Wonderland) and other literary and historical characters are scattered among the 17th-century pleasure gardens. A 15-minute walk takes you down to the dell beneath the castle and St Peter’s Well – a stopping place for medieval pilgrims. Return via a Chinese bridge, Gabriel’s bridge, an iron age fort, along a stream, past Sir Stuart’s House and back to the castle via the Old Orchard. There are large drifts of snowdrops, daffodils and flowering shrubs in season.
The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, PL20 7LQ
Home to the Matt Bishop snowdrop collection, with more than 400 different varieties throughout the 10-acre gardens. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday until March 31, thegardenhouse.org.uk.
National Gardens Scheme, nationwide
Lots of smaller gardens are opening their gates for charity in 2025 for the National Garden Scheme Snowdrop and Spring Flower gardens. Visit ngs.org.uk/dates-for-your-diary-early-openers-2025 to find the gardens near you.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, West Gate, Arboretum Place: Snowdrop and Spring Interest Walks
January 25-February 16: Join guides each weekend for an introduction to the specialist snowdrop collection. Spring plants and bulbs including Narcissus, Fritillaria and Iris are also covered. Walks will be held each Saturday and Sunday at 11am. Limited availability so advance booking/reservation is recommended. Tickets cost £10. Contact the Visitor Welcome Team on 0131 248 2909 or email [email protected].
The Scottish Snowdrop Festival
The Scottish Snowdrop Festival runs from January to March and will feature a mixture of events and self-guided walks. As well as most of the events above held in Scotland, here is a synopsis of the festival:
Ardkinglas Estate, February 14, Cairndow, Argyll. Snowdrop walk in the Ardkinglas House private Garden followed by a house tour, then tea/coffee and cake. Booking essential.
Cleghorn, March 2, Stable House, Cleghorn Farm, Lanark. Lawns with mature trees, shrubs, snowdrops and a woodland walk along the valley, formed by 12th-century dams that were built to form fish ponds. The valley has been cleared and the burn and snowdrops are now visible from both sides of the valley.
Cloan, February 16, by Auchterarder PH3 1PP. Two acres of wild garden and an acre of walled garden with a large herbaceous border. Fine views of Strathearn from the front of the house. Snowdrops throughout the winter and spring months.
Craig, February 16, Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Craig snowdrops have evolved over the last 40 or so years, blooming from the start of January until April and peaking mid-February. A variety of snowdrops swept down by the river have naturalised in woodland, known as the Snowdrop Walk.
Danevale Park, February 16, Crossmichael, Kirkudbrightshire. First opening for snowdrops in 1951, these mature grounds have a wonderful display of snowdrops as well as aconites. Snowdrops for sale with homemade teas in the house.
Snowdrop festivals and events – More Scottish snowdrops…
Drumlanrig Castle Snowdrop Walk Weekend, February 22-23, Thornhill DG3 4AQ. Follow a route around the gardens and discover the variety of snowdrops and witch hazels with fragrant blooms in vivid yellow, orange, and red. The Larchwood Cabin Café will be open and plants will also be available to buy. Dogs on leads are welcome. Visit www.drumlanrigcastle.co.uk.
Dunimarle Castle: February 8-9, Balgownie West, Culross. 52 acres of formal gardens, meadows and woodlands, including a Victorian gothic-style chapel, an Italianate yew-lined terrace and the Bastion Garden.
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens Snowdrop Days 2025, February 13, 15 and 18, MacLeod Estate, Isle of Skye. When the first snowdrops start to appear, the MacLeod Tables Cafe and castle gardens open, with all donations going to local charities. Read my Cool Gardens review.
Ecclesgreig Castle, March 2, St Cyrus, Angus. The castle, Victorian Gothic on a 16th-century core, was an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The snowdrop walk (over 150 varieties) meanders around the estate. In the Italian balustraded gardens, there is a 140-foot-long herbaceous border. Also to be found in the grounds is the ancient well of St Cyrus.
Hopetoun Snowdrop Weekend: February 1-2, Hopetoun House, South Queensferry EH309SL. Dog and child-friendly, explore Hopetoun House in winter for the first time. Pre-book Ranger-led guided walks at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
Victorian mansion
Kinblethmont House, February 22-23, by Arbroath, Angus. A Victorian mansion house surrounded by woodland where specimen trees and snowdrops abound. Paths take you through the woods past the old pet cemetery and to the walled garden with children’s play area.
Kirkton Manor House: February 12, 19 and 26, Peebles. A three-acre, informal country garden in the Manor Valley. Grass paths meander along the burn where snowdrops, blue and white camassia, meconopsis, and ligularia thrive. The woodland includes many interesting trees.
Lawton House, March 6-9, Inverkeilor, by Arbroath. Woodland garden of beech trees, carpeted with snowdrops, aconites and crocuses, set around a 1755 house. There is also a walled garden planted with fruit trees and vegetables.
Lindores House, February 22, by Newburgh. Situated between the house and Lindores Loch, the garden includes lochside and woodland walks with snowdrops, leucojum, hostas, gunnera manicata, primula, astilbes, crocuses, fritillaria, spring and autumn cyclamen, hellebores and trilliums. Visit the 17th Century yew which you can walk inside.
Mellerstain House and Gardens, February 22, Gordon TD3 6LG. Carpets of snowdrops spread throughout the grounds, followed by the glorious colour of rhododendrons and azaleas at the end of May, and finishing with stunning autumn colours in late October. 100 acres of mature parkland, formal gardens and lakeside walks.
Snowdrop festivals and events – Walled garden delight
Preston Hall walled garden, February 15-16, Pathhead, Midlothian. A 3.5-acre 18th-Century walled garden. Restoration began in 2011 under head gardener Kate Danesh.
Princeland House, February 22-23, March 1-2 and March 8-9, Blairgowrie Road, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie PH13 9AU.The wider grounds are under renovation and replanting by Mrs Carmichael. There is a wooded area around the drive and entrance with an extended area of beautiful and different snowdrops planted in drifts.
Shepherd’s House, February 16, Inveresk, Musselburgh. A constantly evolving artist’s garden, with a shell house built in 2014, rose parterres, a rill and fountains. The season starts with the snowdrop collection of over 70 cultivars. The snowdrop festival takes place throughout February on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (2pm-4pm).
Scone Palace Garden, February 22, Perth. A waymarked ‘Snowdrop Walk’ will guide you through the Friars Den, Victorian Pinetum and down the old drive lined with an avenue of lime trees. Join the Palace gardens team as they plant up a new snowdrop display. Learn to increase your own snowdrop display at home and take a few snowdrops home.
Teasses Gardens, February 21-22 and February 28-March 1, near Ceres KY8 5PG. A magical candlelit snowdrop walk in two ‘sittings’, one starting at 4pm and the other at 7.30pm. The cost – including refreshments – will be £25 per car.
Tinnisburn Plants, February 15-16, Upper Millsteads, Canonbie. Developed over the last 36 years, this one-acre plantsman’s garden is home to an eclectic mix of truly hardy perennials, trees and shrubs.
Kailzie Gardens, February 23, Peebles EH45 9HT. A walled garden with many unusual shrubs, laburnum arches, an enchanting rose garden and spectacular herbaceous borders and one of the best examples of a Mackenzie and Moncur glasshouse. The woodlands have one of the best arboretums in Scotland, with champion trees.
