In short: Megginch Castle Tea Garden is a Camellia sinensis plantation in the grounds of Megginch Castle in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire, operated by the Drummond family, who have farmed the estate since 1664.
Megginch Castle Tea Garden is a tea plantation located in the grounds of Megginch Castle near Errol in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. According to Tea Gardens of Scotland, the Drummond family has farmed Megginch Castle's lands since 1664 and grows Camellia sinensis in the castle gardens. The plantation's origin is attributed to a camellia bush brought back by Captain Robert Drummond in 1785, which is cited as the inspiration for growing tea there. Megginch Castle's own site refers to a tea plantation in its grounds and offers tea tours to visitors.
What the Published Sources Say
- Tea Gardens of Scotland says the Drummond family has farmed Megginch Castle's lands in the Carse of Gowrie since 1664 and grows Camellia sinensis in the castle gardens.
- A camellia bush brought back by Captain Robert Drummond in 1785 is cited as the inspiration for growing tea there.
- Megginch Castle's own site refers to a tea plantation in its grounds and offers tea tours.
Sources: Tea Gardens of Scotland: Megginch Castle, Megginch Castle. TeaTrade has not tested or tasted this grower's tea; these are the grower's and publishers' own statements.
Terroir & Climate
The plantation is situated at an altitude of approximately 11 metres in the Carse of Gowrie, a low-lying fertile plain in Perthshire. The region typically experiences a cool, temperate maritime climate characteristic of eastern Scotland, with moderate rainfall distributed throughout the year and relatively mild temperatures moderated by proximity to the North Sea and the Firth of Tay.
At this latitude and elevation, the growing season tends to be shorter than in traditional tea-producing regions, and temperatures generally remain cool even during summer months. Such conditions can influence the pace of leaf development and the length of the harvest window, though the mild winters typical of coastal and low-lying areas in Scotland may reduce frost risk compared to more elevated or inland sites.
Tea Produced
The sources consulted do not state which styles of tea Megginch Castle Tea Garden produces or processes from its Camellia sinensis plants. The grower refers to a tea plantation in the castle grounds but does not specify the types of tea manufactured.
Operator
Megginch Castle Tea Garden is operated by Megginch Castle, the estate of the Drummond family. According to Tea Gardens of Scotland, the family has farmed the castle's lands in the Carse of Gowrie since 1664. The castle's own site indicates that it offers tea tours as part of its visitor activities.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Megginch Castle Tea Garden is in Perthshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; the map pin (56.41, -3.23) is approximate and marks the locality. Its 11 m elevation is the 14th highest of 16 estates we map in the United Kingdom. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from this approximate pin, are:
- St Martins Tea Garden — 10 km away
- Kinnettles Tea Garden — 29 km away · Angus
- Dalguise Tea — 34 km away
- Broich Tea Garden — 38 km away
- Scottish Tea House — 95 km away · Lanarkshire
Megginch Castle Tea Garden Compared with the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Megginch Castle Tea Garden is drier than 88% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 87% of the others by elevation; warmer than 53% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Megginch Castle Tea Garden against the 17 other estates we map in the United Kingdom, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Megginch Castle Tea Garden | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 11 m | 79 m | 2 to 256 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 877 mm | 1,324 mm | 777 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 12.8 °C | 12.7 °C | 10.9 to 14.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 5.6 °C | 6.2 °C | 5.1 to 8.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Megginch Castle Tea Garden (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Megginch Castle Tea Garden’s coordinates recorded 877 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (125 mm) and the driest was April (28 mm). Daytime highs averaged 12.8 °C and overnight lows 5.6 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 877 mm |
| Wettest month | November (125 mm) |
| Driest month | April (28 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 12.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 5.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Megginch Castle Tea Garden located?
Megginch Castle Tea Garden is in Perthshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. The map pin (56.41, -3.23) is approximate and marks the locality rather than the garden, at an elevation of about 11 metres.
Who operates Megginch Castle Tea Garden?
Megginch Castle Tea Garden is operated by Megginch Castle, according to the grower's published information.
How much rain does Megginch Castle Tea Garden receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 877 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (125 mm).
Data sources: the grower’s own published information and public sources (Tea Gardens of Scotland: Megginch Castle, Megginch Castle); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the area’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); the map pin is rounded to about 1 km and marks the locality, not the garden; elevation is a terrain-model value for that point. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].