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REVIEW: Archerfield Walled Garden, East Lothian

REVIEW: Archerfield Walled Garden, East Lothian

Archerfield Walled Garden is a great family friendly day out in East Lothian, Scotland. Archerfield Walled Garden is owned by the Douglas-Hamilton family who have lived and worked on Archerfield Estate since the late 1960’s. We enjoyed a great day out at Archerfield Walled Garden during our trip to Scotland. Here is our Archerfied Walled Garden REVIEW and a few tips for visiting.

Archerfield Walled Garden REVIEW

We visited the walled garden at Archerfield during our Scotland road trip in the campervan. There is so much to do, including a visit to Edinburgh if you are in the area. We stumbled across Archerfield Walled garden as we were searching for fairy trail in East Lothian. It is such a lovely day out for kids with big imaginations.

History of Archerfield Walled Garden

The Douglas-Hamilton family have lived, loved and farmed here since the 1960s and with the creation of Archerfield Walled Garden; the Garden Cafe and Gift Shop, Food Market and grounds including the Fairy Trail and outdoor trails, their legacy continues.

The ‘Walled Garden’ and Home Farm served Archerfield House from the 18th century into the early 20th century and grew a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. In addition there was a mushroom house and ice house which are both currently under restoration, and a gas works. The well in the centre which irrigates the gardens, was only recently discovered when work began on the grounds and is believed to be centuries old.

Archerfield Estate

Archerfield Estate

The Archerfield Walled Garden is set within the Archerfield Estate. Here you can explore the grounds, take the Willow Walk, stop and make a wish at the Wishing Tree, enjoy the Archerfield Fairy Trail, and for the runners amongst you there is also a 5K route around the village of Dirleton.

Archerfield Walled Garden REVIEW with kids
Archerfield walled garden REVIEW

                 

Archerfield walled garden REVIEW

Archerfield Wishing Tree

The Wishing Tree is a wonderful concept. It is beautiful and full of vibrant, colourful ribbons where visitors can stop by and make a wish. The girls chose a coloured ribbon and tied it on to the branches of the tree whilst making their special wish. Don’t share your secret wish though.. it might not come true!!

Archerfield walled garden REVIEW

The Fairy Trail at Archerfield Walled Garden

So we all know that fairies live at the bottom of our gardens right ?! The Archerfield Fairy trail is great for young kids.

The story goes that the fairies were flying over East Lothian under the harvest moon, and they spotted the colours of the magical and bright wishing tree.  They stopped to take a look and loved the woods so much that they decided to set up home.

Archerfield walled garden REVIEW with kids

At the bottom of the Archerfield walled garden, the Archerfield woods houses this magical fairy trail. It is such a lovely place where little ones can explore and let their imaginations run wild. I have to say it was so enchanting.  We followed the trail to spot the fairies, all in their new homes hidden amongst the trees. For the older children there is a fairy quiz that you can pick up from the Archerfield foodhall before you take the trail. The fairy homes are all special and individual, and are hiding amongst the trees with the fairy signs, toadstools and little animals dotted about.

Archerfield Walled Garden
Archerfield Fairy Trail
Archerfield Walled garden

Amongst the trees, along the trail there are a number of toadstools where little ones can sit and rest their tired legs and quietly listen out for the whispers of the fairies and elves. I have included a number of Archerfield walled garden photos in this post so that you can see how absolutely love the grounds are.

Archerfield walled garden REVIEW

 “It’s a happy little wood, quite the perfect place, all the little creatures, sharing natures space. With animals and fairies, all living here together, Looking after each other, always friends forever.”

                                                                                         -Archerfield Walled Garden

Archerfield Walled garden café

There is a great café here, and the food and coffee here is a real treat. We stopped off for a coffee and cake in the cafe and the kids enjoyed a play in the Archerfield playground. The Garden Café operates on a walk-in basis so there’s no need to book. There is a great gift shop full of little gifts, toys, fairy tutus and fairy houses to take home.

Tips for visiting Archerfield Walled Garden

  • The paths in the walled gardens and woods are all buggy friendly. I imagine if there is rainfall it can get a bit muddy, so pack the wellies just in case.
  • Most visitors will leave the gift shop and food market until the end, but if you pop in before the fairy trail you can purchase some fairy dust, a fairy quiz and a ribbon for the wishing tree – so head here first!
  • You do not need to book the fairy trail, just turn up and enjoy!
  • If you fancy the 5K run, there is a map that you can download on their website.
  • Please visit the website for more details
  • If you are wondering if you can bring dogs to Archerfield Estate then yes, you can. Dogs are welcome on the Archerfield estate but do keep them on a lead.
  • What is really wonderful is that it is totally free to visit the Archerfield walled gardens, and this means such a lot to families in search of days out. I just had to share this wonderful place –  I only wish we lived closer!

Archerfield walled garden address

Archerfield Walled Garden
Archerfield Estate, Dirleton
EH39 5HQ

01620 388588

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