Historic Buildings and Gardens, Nature and Wildlife

Threave Estate & Gardens

Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway DG7 I RX

Tel: 01556 502575 Fax: 01556 502683

Ranger/naturalist: tel (01556) 503702

e-mail threave@nts.org.uk

website: www.nts.org.uk

Threave Garden is delightful in all seasons. At 26 ha (64 a), it is best known for its spectacular springtime daffodils (nearly 200 varieties), but herbaceous beds are colourful in summer and trees and heather garden are striking in autumn. The Victorian house is home to the Trust's School of Practical Gardening. The principal rooms in Threave House opened to the public for the first time in 2002 and have attracted great interest ever since. The interiors have been restored to their appearance in the 1930s, and from the house visitors can enjoy impressive vistas of the Galloway countryside. Guided walks. Maxwelton Collection of local bygones in the Visitor Centre on show. Plant Centre.

Threave Estate is a wildfowl refuge and is designated a Special Protection Area for its breeding waders and wintering wildfowl. The important wetlands are designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest. Threave provides a good example of integrated management of the land, taking account of agriculture, forestry and nature conservation. Marked walks include a 2.5 km estate trail through this variety of landscapes, and hides provide good cover to observe bird activity. A Countryside Centre in the old stables highlights nature conservation, forestry and agriculture at Threave.

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