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….. as well as access
to Methven Wood - an ancient oak woodland which is a Site
of Special Scientific Interest.
The gardens are typical of a Victorian country house with fine specimen
trees, a walled kitchen garden, various flower and shrub beds, and
sweeping, extensive lawns. There are two paddocks either side of
the property with grazing horses, sheep and cattle, while the north
end of the grounds provide a wonderful vista up the River Almond
with cliffs and woodland on either side.
The trees and policies (an old Scots word for an amenity woodland
around a house), are perhaps the finest features. There is a magnificent
beech avenue lining the entrance drive way, which was originally
planted nearly 200 years ago along the ornamental east drive to
the Castle. There are also specimen Douglas firs, maples, silver
firs, Scots pines, Weymouth pine, larches, limes, sweet chestnuts,
oaks, birches, hollies, yews and rowans.
The giant tree on the lawn to the west of the house is a Pacific
silver fir (Abies magnifica). It stands at 42 metres high
and 1.5 metres in diameter (one of the biggest trees of its type
in the UK) which originates from the slopes of the Sierra Nevada
in California and is an original introduction from around 1850.
In terms of wildlife you might see roe deer, red and grey squirrels,
pheasants (including Chalky, a pet albino bird), hedgehogs, buzzards,
peregrine falcon, herons, and swifts.
If you enjoy gardening, walking, or the great outdoors, this is
the perfect base for you.
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