Cambo Gardens — Attraction in Scotland

A bit higgledy piggledy was my overall feeling on departure. Cambo estate is well known for displays of snowdrops in Feb/Mar which were definitely there in some large clumps on the site. The drive into the estate is single lane only with passing places so no speeding on the bendy road! I felt the the drive has the best of the snowdrop clumps. There is a 'confusion of signs' at the café and shop entrance as well as around the site which in the end I gave up trying to follow, as did scores more folk I observed. It was free to go around, but there is a charge for one part, which that is was not clear so I hope I didn't transgress and enter a part for which I should have paid. The snowdrops are there and some clumps are large as I said, which present ideal photo opportunities. There's a shop (quelle surprise!) which has some interesting, but pricey stuff. Toilets are there but the signing is a tad confusing, possibly as a result of some doors being shut, and one set is unisex. The cafe is successful, that meant quite a wait which, as we were outside and in the shade, was perishing. Food is ok and the hot drinks are ok too but not worth the wait, take a picnic to have in your car! The walled garden is not yet ready (it was Feb when I went!) with plenty of weeds and some newly planted beds. A walk around the Cambo (I think that's what the stream is called) takes you down to the estuary as it enters the North Sea. It's not spectacular but it is nice with a few good photo opportunities there too. Car parking was a 'mare on the day in question we ended up on a very rough, and overgrown, area. Thankfully I had a SUV with AWD capability which made it easy to exit, others were obviously struggling. Will I go again, possibly but...

A very dissappointing lunch, service was awful, the tables overflowing with dirty plates, with very inexperienced staff who have clearly not had any training. No one greeted us, we took a table, sat for ages before calling a very stressed young lady over who was unable to take an order of three items in her head, total overwhelm. My cup of coffee came, no saucer, no spoon, no sugar - just a cup. I asked for the dirty plates to be cleared (we'd been sat for 20 mins at this point), so took a dirty saucer from here. The waiter did not offer a clean one. I requested a spoon, he brought a dirty one, so I requested a clean one. The lunch came, it was very underwhelming, overpriced and the salad as loaded with sultanas, not to my taste. We ate, paid (£34 for 1 x quiche & salad, 1 x frocacoa & salad and 1 x cappuccino) and left, noticing that most tables had not been cleared, were overflowing with plates, while staff were in the kitchen area and one sat in a corner, on a break I suspect. What a shame to see this place fall to such low standards in what should be a wonderful setting with delicious food, and great service. Definitely in need to a good manager and an overhaul. Will give it a...

This was our first visit and what a great place it is. Very dog friendly, allowing your furry family members in the shops and cafe, as long as their on a lead and we'll behaved. Grounds are lovely and mostly free to walk around. The walled gardens you do have to pay for bit worth the fee, which gets ploughed back into the upkeep of the estate. Visited in January, so wear wellies or walking boots as can get a bit muddy. When we went, they had piglets that were roaming around in the field that you can feed, which the kids enjoyed. They also have horses. There is a small playground for the young ones, a shop and the cafe which sells coffee, cakes light lunches all very tasty. The actual Estate house is a hotel which can be rented out for weddings. There was a sign for off grid parking and a Bothy. Not far from the house is a short walk through the wood to Kingsbarns beach and also the golf course with great views over thd North Sea and down ghe coast towardsSt Andrews and beyond. I will definitely go back well...