Plan A Visit
Educational Visits
Group Visits
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The Scottish Borders
Bowhill House & Gardens
The Buccleuch Collection
History
Bowhill House Gardens
House Tours
The Adventure Playground
Soft Play
Love & Respect Victorian Age Exhibition
The Victorian Kitchen
Our Sister Estates
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Easter Fun
At Easter, Bowhill launched the all new Wind in the Willows themed trail, which had a great mix of props for photo opportunities and activities to keep the children, large and small, engaged. From Mr Toads crashed car to Badgers house, the props were all made and painted in house, with Calum Flanders working his usual carpentry magic and Sarah bringing everything to life with her creative flair. I even got to make my biggest den to date and my first ever obstacle course.
Storybook Adventure...
What made the event so special, was brining visitors onto the terraces for the final assault on our very own Toad Hall and a celebratory afternoon tea with Mr Toad, Badger and the heroes of the story Ratty and Mole. Those pesky weasels didn’t stand a chance!
May Day Fayre
The May Day Fayre was another great weekend of fun and thought. Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensbury (1806-84), was involved in the planning of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Rory and Sarah collected some intriguing curiosities from across the estates, including an actual Victorian fire engine from Dalkeith Palace, to bring Bowhill’s very own Great Exhibition to life.
Traditional Fun
With a traditional Maypole and fayre games, created with assistance from schools work experience, there was plenty of challenge for our visitors with “Splat the Rat”, “Coconut Shy”, “Hook-a-Duck” and “Tin Can Alley proving to be favourites, especially with some rather competitive parents getting involved. Not that any of us were around in the 19th Century, but it was a great throwback to the traditional fayre games of our youth.
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