Fairy Green Cabin on the Dunsinnan Estate was the next chapter of my Botanical Grand Tour. The timing felt just right — late summer light on stubble fields, wildflowers still blooming in the meadow, and the first hints of autumn colour in the Perthshire hills behind the cabin. I arrived on balmy Monday evening and the sun was glinting off the vast stubble fields around the cabin.

We headed up to Loch Venacher Cabins for four nights with Pinto, our ever-enthusiastic companion. These cabins have long been on our radar — we often pass them on our favourite hikes around Loch Venacher, dreaming of what it might be like to stay. So when I managed to line up a botanical tour stop here, it felt extra special to finally spend time in a place we’ve admired from afar for so many years.

Last week, I travelled to the westernmost point of the British Isles — Ardnamurchan — as part of my botanical grand tour, and I couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring place to work. My home for the week was the enchanting, retrofitted Scottish-Scandi house at Borradill — an imaginative renovation of two 1990s prefab Swedish cabins, nestled deep within an ancient Celtic rainforest. The cabins have been lovingly revived by Claire and her husband Will, whose bold vision has created a true haven.

I spent the week at the beautiful Red Kite Lodge — the very first of what is now six stunning Scandinavian log cabins nestled on the edge of peaceful woodland. It marked the start of my 2025 Botanical Grand Tour, and I couldn’t have asked for a more magical beginning than a stay in the Muir of Ord.

For my final stop on my botanical grand tour of 2024, I didn’t have to travel far. A quick 40-minute drive brought me to Eastside Farm, nestled in the heart of the Pentlands. Here, within the grounds of a working farm, I would spend the next few days in the most peaceful and picturesque setting imaginable. As an avid walker and swimmer, I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors, but embarrassingly, I had little experience exploring the Pentlands before this trip. I typically gravitate toward the coast on weekends. But now, after my stay, I’m completely hooked—turns out, I’m a die-hard Pentlands fan girl now.

Recently Pinto, Dave and I headed off to the Clackmannanshire hills for a few nights of casting, walking and soaking up the beautiful woodlands of Brucefield Estate. It was so nice to have some company (and more importantly an on site film crew, I made them work for their stay) on this casting adventure, the latest in my series of casting collaborations as part of my botanical grand tour.

After a luxurious stay in beautiful Norfolk, Pinto and I continued our botanical grand tour and headed south to St Albans where our next casting adventure lay ahead. Situated a short drive from the picturesque town of St Albans lies the stunning ReCabin in the middle of a private, peaceful 8 acre meadow. Although close to many amenities and only 45 minutes from London, as I meandered through the meadow on my approach to the cabin I felt immediately at peace and absorbed in the natural surrounding.

My latest creative exchange saw me setting off to North Norfolk, an area of the UK I am not that familiar with. One of my university friends was from just outside Norwich so I spent a bit of time exploring the expansive coastline with her but given that was, scarily, about 20 years ago I was looking forward to visiting again as from what I could remember, its a stunning place.

I cannot recommend a visit to Outfield Farm enough, I was blown away by the individual style of each cabin and how beautifully they have been designed, built and furnished.

After a summer of set backs and cancellations due to wee Pinto’s ongoing health issues, I was so excited to be hitting the road to the Wildflower Wagon for a few days casting in the Cambridge countryside.

After a busy weekend of hosting back to back workshops at the lovely Restoration yard, I packed up my mini casting studio and headed North with excitement as I was off to my next collaborative exchange destination; the magical Glen Dye estate.

This week I packed up a casting kit and set off down to Wales for the first in a series of collaborative exchanges I have arranged over the course of this year.