The central sundial, designed by John Mylne, is a Category A listed structure.
The garden's geometric parterre is designed to be viewed from the high vantage point of the castle terraces.
Queen Victoria visited the gardens in 1842 and planted two copper beech trees to commemorate the occasion.
The filming location for the 'Palace of Versailles' in the television series Outlander.
The gardens include a kitchen garden that historically provided produce for the castle household.
The current boxwood parterres were re-planted in the 1950s following a period of decline after the Second World War.
Drummond Castle Gardens is one of Europe's most significant examples of formal 17th-century terraced landscaping. The design features a complex parterre arrangement centered around a sundial dating back to 1630. While the castle itself remains a private residence not open to the public, the surrounding 12-acre gardens are accessible for exploration. The layout underwent significant Victorian-era restoration and currently showcases extensive topiary and geometric hedging. Visitors access the gardens via a dramatic beech-lined driveway that spans over a mile in length. The site is situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Strathearn valley.
From the top of the upper terrace looking down toward the sundial and the central axis of the parterre.
Wear sturdy walking shoes as the terraces involve steep slopes and gravel paths.
Bring a camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the full scale of the parterre patterns from the upper level.
Check the official website before traveling to confirm the gardens are not closed for private events.
Do not attempt to enter the castle itself, as it is a private residence and strictly off-limits to visitors.
Open seasonally from spring through autumn; closed during winter months.
Stick to designated pathways to preserve the formal borders; do not climb on the stone terrace walls.
