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Explore the Magic of Herbs in Edinburgh’s Secret Garden

by The Foodie Travel Guide | Apr 9, 2015

Secret Herb Garden, Edinburgh

The Secret Herb Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh is a relaxing place to explore the magic of herbs. Learn all about their different medicinal, culinary and decorative applications.

Secret Herb Garden Edinburgh Photo: clyr2 flickr

Escape from the city to the Secret Herb Garden, a relaxing, family-friendly and peaceful herb garden towards the south west of Edinburgh. Stop by for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. You’ll be surrounded by the scent and sight of different herbs. Sit back, breathe in and enjoy their nurturing effects – very om shanti.

The Foodie Travel Guide

The Story

We love these kind of stories. Having built up Inverarity Vaults, one of Scotland’s leading independent wine merchants, Hamish Martin sold the business and embarked on a Diploma in Herbology at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. He stumbled upon a large, derelict greenhouse in Lothianburn, bought the entire plot and moved there with his family to realise their dream of opening the Secret Herb Garden.

Have a Sensory Experience

The result – a relaxed family-friendly space where people can come and enjoy both the indoors and the outdoors. You can sit in the glasshouse and enjoy a cup of herbal tea or go for a wander around the garden. Visitors are encouraged to taste, touch and smell the herbs and learn about their different medicinal, culinary and decorative applications.

Get a Herb Education

They’ve built a lecture room and herb drying room to use as an educational space for both adults and children. Learn all about herbs but also come here for bee keeping courses, candle making, foraging, animal husbandry and festive or seasonal courses.

Dine Under the Light of the Full Moon

Foodies will gravitate towards their Full Moon Dinners which are hosted in the glasshouse where the light of the silvery full moon shines through and illuminates the surroundings. Alison, the chef, creates delectable dishes from foraged fresh and local produce.

In the Secret Herb Garden shop, you’ll find herbal teas, herb-infused coffees and food, and dried culinary herbs. Candles, honey, herbal bath products and freshly cut flowers and edible flowers are also available to buy
To make fresh herbs last longer, wrap them in damp kitchen paper and store in the fridge

Mr Hendricks says, “They tell me that dogs on the lead are allowed but only at the entrance, the front of the café and in the plant sale area.”