When it comes to Scotland, a Japanese garden is probably not the first place you would think to find there. However, just outside the town of Dollar, lies the breathtakingly beautiful Japanese Garden at Cowden. In this blog post I am sharing with you a guide to the garden, including how to get there, what you can see, things to do nearby in the same day and how to plan your trip.
This blog post is in paid partnership with Discover Scottish Gardens, however all opinions stated are my own.
About
It was created at the beginning of the 20th century by Japanese designer Taki Handa for Scottish adventurer Ella Christie. At the time, it was unique for a Japanese woman to be employed for that kind of role. Ella Christie named the garden Sha Raku En which means “a place of pleasure and delight”.
The ticket price is normally £7 or £6 for 18-24 year olds. However, if you visit them any day before the 18th February 2022, you can get 50% off the admissions tickets as part of Scotland’s Days Out by VisitScotland. If you are booking online, apply the code “Daysout50” at checkout or you mention this offer at the ticket desk when you arrive. You can find out more about the prices and opening times on their website. I spent about 3 hours there but honestly, I could’ve spent all day strolling in the garden and taking in the views.
How to get there
Whether you’re driving or taking public transport, the garden is very accessible and easy to find. I took the 202 bus from Kinross Park and Ride towards Tillicoultry and got off at the stop “Anchorage”. The bus journey took around 20 minutes. I walked about 15 minutes from the bus stop and the road was clearly marked with signs pointing towards the garden. It’s a lovely walk there as you are surrounded by hills and fields. Alternatively, you can get a bus to Dollar and from there walk around 30 minutes to the garden which is also a beautiful walk.
Things to do and see in the garden
When I arrived, I went to purchase my ticket at the ticket office and then began to explore the garden. The lady at the ticket office was very friendly and also gave me a map of the gardens and explained a bit more about the place. I definitely recommend also getting their guide book as it explains really well the fascinating history of the place, what each part is and its symbolism.
When I started the self guided tour, I was instantly welcomed by a beautiful pond surrounded by the stunning views of the hills. I immediately felt the peace and serenity of the garden and it made it easy to sit and relax. The whole time I was there, I felt very calm and safe, especially as a solo female traveller. I took my time to take everything in and learn about each unique attraction.
Some of my favourite things there that I found very interesting are the stunning pond and the surrounding views, the dry garden with the four moss mounds and the gravel that represents the water flowing from the Ochil Hills. I loved learning about what each thing represents, for example, the North Gate symbolises leaving the Japanese Garden and reentering Scotland.
The different sized stone lanterns were placed around the garden which were used to light up the paths at night.
I loved the different views and perspectives I saw from all the different paths, like in the photo below.
I also followed the Christie’s Walk which took me through some woods. The winter sun was shining through the trees the whole time and I didn’t want to leave.
When I finished walking around (and taking hundreds of photos!), I ended up at their tearoom. The menu didn’t have any vegan lunch items, however the staff were very accommodating and friendly and made me a vegan spinach and potato soup which tasted delicious. After that, I had their orange polenta cake which was vegan friendly.
They also have a cute gift shop with lovely gift ideas and souvenirs.
Things to do nearby
There are many things nearby, so you can do a few of them in the same day. After the garden, you can take a walk in the Lawhill Community Woodland which is about a 10-minute walk from the garden. A few other walks that you can do after or before visiting the garden are Hillfoot Hill, Tillicoultry Glen and Dollar Glen. Castle Campbell is also nearby and is worth visiting. You can also walk about 30 minutes to the town of Dollar and explore the local independent businesses. From there you can also get the bus back.
On the way back home, I took the bus H2 from Dollar to Alloa and had to wait about an hour for the next one so I had a look in some of the shops there and bought a couple of things I needed.
Planning your trip
When I was planning my trip, it was really helpful to go on the Discover Scottish Gardens’ website and use their web search. You can search by region, seasonal highlights, openings, and highlights such as woodland, autumn colours, snowdrops, water gardens, etc.
The Snowdrop Festival has also started and has events in many public gardens up until the 11th March. You can find out more about its events and dates on their website.
I fell in love with the Japanese Garden and could not believe how bright everything is even in the middle of winter. It’s truly a stunning place and I would definitely recommend it to anyone to visit no matter the season. Whether you go with family and friends or go solo, it’s the perfect place for a day out to reconnect with nature and enjoy the tranquillity.
You can follow Discover Scottish Gardens on social media for more up to date information on all the different gardens you visit in Scotland.
Follow my adventures on Instagram @marisa.vogiatzi for more travel content.
Watch my Youtube video down below.
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