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Dating back to at least 1650, the mansion of Leith Hall was built on the site of an earlier castle.  Records from 1745 show that the garden was in full production with 1600 cabbages being sold to a nearby Castle.  The garden evolved during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and was enlarged by the eighteenth laird, Alexander Sebastian Leith-Hay during the late 1800s.

The garden that we see today was made principally by Charles and Henrietta Leith Hay in the early twentieth century who expanded into what had previously been a donkey paddock, building off the framework created 50 years before.  As well as magnificent mixed and herbaceous borders, they created a large rock garden with compartments named after various saints, added a large lean-to conservatory and famous Moon Gate in the north wall.

Situated at nearly 200m above sea level and experiencing some of the coldest winter temperatures on record, the garden at Leith Hall has been managed by the National Trust for Scotland since 1946.  Since then parts of the garden have been simplified for ease of maintenance but overall its design and plant collection has been considerably improved.  The famous serpentine herbaceous and catmint borders, rock garden, spiral turf maze and fine collection of trees and shrubs provide interest throughout the year.

Other facilities: Tearoom serving home-made light lunches and teas.  Small hall-table gift shop with a selection of plants available from the potting shed.
Garden open: daily throughout the year 10am-sunset.
House open: Easter-September Frid-Tues 12-4.15pm (closed Wed & Thurs).
Directions: Leith Hall is on the B9002, 1 mile west of Kennethmont and 34 miles north west of Abberdeen.