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Winter with the Trust

A close-up of some snowdrops with lime green heart-shaped markings on their white petals.

Start 2025 in the best possible way with the Trust – enjoy beautiful winter walks, admire the snowdrops and share special experiences with those you love.

The first sign of spring

We love seeing snowdrops pop out of the wintery ground; they’re guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. They’re surprisingly varied in height, flower size, shape and even colouring.

Many of our places have wonderful displays of these beautiful flowers, and we’ve picked out a few highlights below:

  • House of the Binns snowdrop trail
    Mon 10–Fri 14 February
    Wander along paths through the woodland blanketed by snowdrops and learn interesting facts about this fascinating winter flower!
  • Branklyn Garden snowdrop festival
    Wed 12–Sun 16 February
    During the festival you can explore the garden to see the full range of snowdrops, along with many other spring-flowering bulbs. There are over 200 varieties of snowdrop here!
  • Broughton Garden snowdrop showcase
    Mon 17–Fri 21 February
    Pop in between 11am–3pm to admire the beautiful display in the garden.

Also look out for swathes of snowdrops at places such as Crathes Castle, Culzean Castle, Fyvie Castle, House of Dun, Newhailes and Threave Garden.

A woodland completely blanketed in snowdrops
House of the Binns

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Valentine’s Day

Share your love for Scotland with the one you love most. Our places make wonderful places to enjoy a 1st or 100th date! 

If you fancy a romantic walk, spring is just starting to emerge in some of our gardens, and our countryside places offer stunning views on a good day. And if the weather is still a little dreich, not to worry – we have lots of cosy castles, houses and museums to explore, filling your days with delightful discoveries and stories from Scotland’s past. 

Our winter places

And then relax in one of our many cafés and tearooms – a lovely treat to share with your special person. We’ve introduced some delicious new ranges this year, which we’re excited to share with you.

Valentine’s Day ideas in Scotland

A close-up of a sprig of a bleeding heart plant, showing a row of tiny flowers hanging off the stem. The flowers are a deep pink and shaped like a heart, with a tiny white 'tear drop' at the bottom.

Valentine’s Day recipes

We’ve gathered some of our favourite recipes to share with those you love.

Cocktail recipe: Pink Castle Gin gimlet

Our Pink Castle gimlet made with our very own Pink Castle Gin, simply shaken with raspberries, lime, and syrup.

Recipe: Elizabeth’s lemon drizzle cake from Drum Castle

Simple to make and delicious to eat, try out this recipe at home from Elizabeth Hirst at Drum Castle.

Recipe: Ivor’s brownie traybake from Newhailes

Indulge in rich, fudgy brownies from Head Chef Ivor Clark at Newhailes. Dark, milk and white chocolate blend perfectly to create a gooey centre.

Shop Valentine’s gifts

Whoever you’re shopping for, our National Trust for Scotland online shop includes a variety of options to appeal to many interests and styles, ensuring that you’ll find the ideal gift.

100% of the profits from every purchase go towards protecting Scotland’s heritage.

Shop our Valentine’s Day collection online

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a bit different this year, here are some fab ideas for gifts that are good for the soul, good for the environment, and good for Scotland’s heritage.

A 2025 getaway

At the National Trust for Scotland, we have over 60 places to stay across the country. Whether you’re seeking a romantic couple’s getaway or a family holiday with play parks on your doorstep, browse our collection of breathtaking estates, country lodges, magnificent castles, historical homes and internationally acclaimed gardens to see what property takes your fancy.

Explore our holiday accommodation

A lounge in a holiday cottage, with turquoise and green sofas and a fireplace on the opposite wall.
Port Donnel Cottage, Rockcliffe

Find a place to visit

Look for a place you’ll love.

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Snowdrops in Broughton House Garden >