Pollok House Walled Garden

Behind the grand Pollok House lies a walled garden that many visitors to Pollok Country Park never find. This two-acre garden once supplied the Maxwell family's table and has been carefully restored to its Edwardian heyday. Vegetables grow in neat rows exactly as they would have in 1910: heritage potato varieties, climbing beans on hazel frames, espaliered fruit trees against warm brick walls. The cutting garden bursts with dahlias, sweet peas, and roses destined for house arrangements. Greenhouses contain exotic plants—orchids, citrus trees, and delicate ferns—requiring the sheltered environment Victorian gardeners perfected. The garden operates as a working demonstration space, with volunteers maintaining beds using period-appropriate methods. It's both beautiful and educational, showing how a wealthy household achieved self-sufficiency. Benches along gravel paths invite contemplation among the flowers. The high walls create exceptional shelter, allowing Mediterranean plants to thrive in Scotland. Best visited in summer when produce and flowers are at their peak.