Greetings, I wanted to get a feel for what it's like to visit here the one day a year it is open but didn't see anything when searching for either "Portrack House" or "Garden of Cosmic Speculation".
Sorry if I missed post about this, but I'd love to hear from others who have been here to see if it is considered worth building a trip around the day it's open.
thanks,
Jeff
One review on here:
tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g190921-…
I can see the issue as the reviewer notes - another example of Trip Advisor's off-beat geography!
There's a couple of mentions in hotel reviews:
tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186513-d1…
tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186513-d1…
The limited opening and misplaced TA listing may be the cause of so few reviews!
Have you read the latest Louise Penny novel where it features - that's where I first became aware of it by name though I think I've seen it on a TV gardening programme some years ago
Thanks so very much CheresX. It's no wonder I didn't find it. I'll take a look at my library for the Louise Penny; haven't read her to date.
It won't be this year, but the idea of building a trip around this is quite appealing.
thank you,
Jeff
The "one day a year" comment probably derived from here:
scotlandsgardens.org/gardens/garden/6f8a52d7…
You might also care to look at Jupiter Artland, much nearer Edinburgh - you'll recognise a few common themes, and the latter is open most days of the year.
https://www.jupiterartland.org/
http://www.charlesjencks.com/#!projects
Jeff - if you enjoy crime novels then I'd recommend Louise Penny's series - she's an award winner, too. Her main detective is from the Montreal Surete with the most common setting being around a (fictional) village in Quebec. I hope what I've said isn't too much of a "spoiler".
If you are interested in gardens there are others (more traditional perhaps) in the same region.
Contributor 
14,958 posts
312 reviews Just revisiting this interesting thread as I've been asked if its possible to get to the Gardens by public transport from Glasgow?
I've failed to find a route using public transport, but perhaps I'm having a senior moment. Do-able?
Ha ha Purple C! Good test. Event is on Sunday 3 May 2015 between 12.00pm and 5.00pm and public transport is never at it's best on a Sunday.
I can't see anything obvious from Ayr however if the visitor was to get to Sanquhar the #246 bus leaves at 12.25pm from High Street and they could get off at Portrack road end then walk for about 15 minutes, arriving at around 1.15pm.
Return on #102 bus (Edinburgh) from Portrack road end at 5.13pm, get off at the Cross at Thornhill (opposite Bank) and then catch the #236 to Sanquhar at 5.55pm arriving there at 6.14pm.
From Dumfries it's a shorter trip - the #246 bus from Whitesands at 10.58am would get them there by around 11.30am (drops off at Portrack road end & same walk). Return on #102 bus at 4.18pm from Portrack road end and back to Dumfries Whitesands by 4.58pm.
So it is possible at least from Sanquhar or Dumfries but needless to say you wouldn't want to miss any buses or it would be a long walk (or wait).
I tried to edit but ran out of time when I re-read your question indicating traveller was from Glasgow - the answer to that one is no it's not possible to get from there same day and back on a Sunday as far as I can see.
Contributor
14,958 posts
312 reviews Thank you so much rantin rover! Thats some excellent advice right there and is much appreciated. I will pass on the information. Maybe the people wishing to attend will consider spending the night before in Dumfries or Ayr. There are tour buses going from Glasgow but it sold out in record time. All this talk has given me the urge to go myself, but I won;t be in the country this year. Maybe next year. It looks amazing!
Hello- I am planning to be in Glasgow this year and am interested in a tour bus to get the the Portrak house/Garden of Cosmic speculation on the one day - May 1st. Do you know who runs the tour buses? I have not been able to find this info. I hope it's not too late for this year!
