http://www.shepherdhousegarden.co.uk/

Scottish Field describe them as ‘One of the top 10 best small gardens in Scotland’.
For me it’s the best I’ve been to. I don’t need to say much, their website does justice to the beauty and every changing nature of this beautiful garden, do let the slideshow run right through to get a true impression of the place. It is particularly wonderful when the tulips are out.

I’d be happy to visit every month of the year knowing I’d find it looking different each time. It is one acre but you fell like you’ve seen more as it is split into several areas and the stone walls are at angles so you get a varying sense of scale depending where you are. They have woodland, vegetables, water features, sculptures, fruit, topiary, flower borders and so much more, including a lovely stone shed with green roof.

There are many formal features but it doesn’t have that uptight feeling of formality of larger gardens, there is a softness and looseness that makes it seem more like a well tamed cottage garden.

They are usually open Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-4pm, check the website before visiting. Entrance is currently £3.50. They occasionally open longer on other days for Charity events and at those times sell teas and have a plant stall.

And if you are there, you are only a 2 minute walk from the Inveresk Lodge Garden, part of the National Trust and a great place to sit on a sunny day looking West over the river Esk. £3 or free to members. They have toilet facilities in their conservatory (crucial for the weak bladdered like myself) http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/35/

Inveresk Village (now classed as part of Musselburgh) has a lovely street full of 17th and 18th century houses and both gardens are either side of that street though you access Shepherd House from a side street. I should note, if you are making a day of it take snacks as there no shops in the village though there are plenty if you carry on into Musselburgh itself.