Logan Botanic Gardens

You'll find yourself wandering through one of Scotland's most unlikely gardens, tucked away on the Mull of Galloway near Stranraer. Logan is run by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and it punches well above its weight for a place this remote. The walled garden itself is the real draw - eighteen acres of subtropical plants that somehow thrive in this corner of Dumfries and Galloway, thanks to the Gulf Stream and some seriously clever microclimate management. Palms, tree ferns, exotic shrubs from New Zealand and South Africa - you half expect to turn a corner and find yourself in the Mediterranean rather than the Scottish Lowlands.

Walking the grounds takes a good couple of hours if you're not rushing, and it's genuinely worth the time. The pathways wind naturally, so you never feel herded. The woodland areas are lovely and shaded, and there's proper information about what you're looking at without being patronising. Kids will enjoy the slightly wild feel of it - there's room to explore rather than being confined to formal beds.

Admission comes at a cost, but it's reasonable for a garden of this quality. Check ahead with Logan directly for current hours, as they can vary seasonally. If you're staying at Sands of Luce Holiday Park down the coast, it's only a twenty-minute drive and makes for a solid half-day outing. The surrounding countryside is worth exploring too - the roads around here are quiet and the views across to Northern Ireland on clear days are remarkable.