Where Scottish Renaissance Towers Meet Kyoto Zen Tradition
Perched high on a ridge overlooking the Firth of Forth, Lauriston Castle is one of Edinburgh’s most multifaceted hidden treasures. At its core stands a fortified 16th-century stone tower house built by Sir Archibald Napier, which was later extended into an elegant Jacobean mansion surrounded by thirty acres of mature woodland and manicured lawns.
The castle’s interior is a remarkable Edwardian time capsule, preserved exactly as it was when the Reid family gifted it to Scotland in 1926. But for many visitors, the ultimate surprise is found outdoors in the Kyoto Friendship Garden. Designed in 2002 by master landscape architect Takashi Sawano to mark the twinning of Edinburgh and Kyoto, it is one of the finest authentic Japanese gardens in the United Kingdom.
Wandering through the garden, bamboo groves, polished river stones, granite lanterns, and raked gravel gardens create an aura of profound tranquility. Water flows peacefully through curved ponds where cherry blossoms reflect on the surface, offering sea breezes and contemplation away from urban life.
"Pack a picnic for the expansive castle lawns. While thousands flock to the city's crowded central parks, Lauriston's thirty acres of seaside parkland remain peaceful and quiet even in mid-summer."
Gifted to the nation in 1926 by last owners William and Margaret Reid under the strict condition that the house and its exquisite collections of Blue John stone and Italian furniture remain untouched.
