Scotney is not one but two houses. At the top of the hill is the new house, designed by Anthony Salvin in Elizabethan style and built in 1837 for Edward Hussey III, who took the "Picturesque" style as his inspiration. At the bottom of the valley are the romantic ruins of a medieval castle and moat. This is the focal point of the celebrated gardens featuring spectacular displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, and kalmia in May to June, with trees and shrubs providing autumnal color. The estate is open all year, offering a variety of walks through beautiful parkland, woodland, and farmland.
Helene Gammack is a garden researcher and designer with a Master's Degree in garden history, following a career as a professional gardener. She has previously worked for the National Trust on a variety of garden research projects and is the author of Kitchen Garden Estate, about self-sufficiency.