One of the hidden attractions just outside Edinburgh is the labour of love run by Liberty and Hamish Martin called The Secret Herb Garden. This idyllic venture lies 6 miles south of the city centre and allows the owners to share their enjoyment of herbs along with home produced food and drink, vintage furniture and candles made from the wax produced by the on-site apiary. Entry to the garden is free of charge, however, it is difficult not to spend money with a huge array of herbs for sale - I never realised how many types of mint existed until they were lined up, each with their own particular fragrance or taste. You'll also find it hard to resist spending some time in the cafe with a selection of cakes and scones as well as a very enjoyable lunch dish of Sweet Corn Quiche and Hand Picked Flower Salad. When you have finished lunch head beyond the glass-house and take a look at the apiary where you can see inside a working bee-hive; the medicinal garden and some innovative plant pots, including a Volkswagen Beetle that has herbs growing from its boot and bonnet. If you are looking for something a little different in easy travelling distance from Scotland's capital city then The Secret Herb Garden is a great choice. read more

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The Secret Herb Garden is exactly what the name suggests; a hidden wonderland of herby goodness. If you're a foodie looking for that special all-natural flavour or looking for a particular medicinal herb, then I've no doubt that SHG is just what you're after. I liked that all the herb labels shared a suggested use or some properties of the plant. For example, certain plants would make for a nourishing bath soak, and others, just perfect for an edible cake decoration. Secret Herb Garden, I do appreciate your passion for plant power! We were welcomed by a HUGE pregnant pig bathing in the hot spring sun. Aside from wanting to be that glorious pig, I thought it was just really nice that there's a big-ass pig just chilling up front. We said hello with a friendly stroke behind the ear, before heading into herby heaven. Boy, oh, boy! - There's so much. To express, just how much, I'll tell you that I was completely overwhelmed by all the variants of mint. You'd be a fool, like I was, to think that mint, as a herb, was constrained to the pepper and spear varieties. No, no, no! Just go have a gander at the impressive mint selection at the Secret Herb Garden. It's seriously impressive. - Mint! There's greenhouses adorned with herb after herb, with the occasional couch perched in amongst the madness of plants. There's also a café and a little shop selling beeswax, foraging books and other quirky goodies. You can sign up for meditation classes too. It's twee, and special in its very own way. Service is casual, and tables are dotted around the place, so your order may take a tad longer to find its way to you. Our table was a teeny bit rickety but we were grateful to have found a spot out front where our pooch could chill with us. (Dogs out front only!) I got a latte. Of course, it had a little heart in the foam. - A smile-inducer if every there was one. We waved goodbye to Secret Herb Garden, and to the pregnant pig. I'll be back to see the piglets, and to try the cakes, and, most importantly, for the wonderful herbs. read more

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Well if you like your herbs and garden - you will love this place. Cola, tangerine and hazelnut are just some of the wonderful types of parangolia species. I've never seen so many varieties of rosemary, thyme, lavender and mint! Strawberry Mint - oh my! Look I could go on abiut the amount of different types for days on here but i think you lot would get a bit tired if I did that! But you get the gist of it. Moving on you get to sit in the green houses on comfortable sofas with tea and cake from the shop. The shop has a great range of goods from trout pate to vegetables. They have also got a furniture section where the items have been reclaimed and up for sale, but couldn't see any prices on them. It was the first day of opening for them and they were still runing around finishing off jobs but they were all super duper friendly and passionate as i asked them about what herb works best for my garden! I can see myself going bonkers buying herbs - yes bonkers! Whats more they will be selling fruit trees and lots more in the coming months - there is so much potential! It's run by a Husband and Wife - and they are super nice too! read more

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We didn't buy any of the plants. We didn't eat any cake, or drink any tea. We didn't take a class (yet!). But we still had a 5 star day out at the Secret Herb Garden. This place is so much more than a garden centre with a tea room. This is a labour of love. Everything seems to have evolved naturally and yet, at the same time - nothing seems to be left to chance. An impossible balance to achieve - but yet they have. Every little nook and cranny is a gallery-worthy photo waiting to be taken. Every hidden chair is a place to sit and think and let time slip past. Come, explore and take it all in. Don't be in a rush, don't miss any path or quirky outbuilding and don't forget the camera. read more

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Really cute cafe out off a small road . You can sit in the garden green house on sofas or cute little tables and chairs amounts grape vines and They have a lovely selection of Vegan and dairy free and GF cakes :) They also had some normal cakes too ;) They have delicious coffee ! Super friendly . Lovely escape from the big city. read more

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The Secret Herb Garden is a well-kent secret these days, especially on a busy snow sledging day in the Pentlands! But it still feels like a bit of an undiscovered oasis and chance to relax close to nature. For tea/coffee and cake, there's lot of tasty choices especially herbal teas using the Garden's own herbs, and a range of cakes from orange cake to tiffin. On sale are wines, beers, honey, candles and of course, a huge range of herbs. Classes on offer right now include beekeeping. Personally I'm hoping for some willow basket or sculpture classes to give me an excuse to return. read more

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There's something about this place that's instantly relaxing. It's nice to sit amongst nature and sip coffee or tea and watch the birds and bees. The coffee shop serve slight food, the quiches are very nice (although a word of warning, on my first visit I ordered vegetarian quiche but got served a different quiche to the one I asked for and it contained meat - very apologetic but not a clever thing to do). I like looking and smelling the herbs and sitting in the vintage furnished glasshouse is how I could spend an entire afternoon. I haven't been on the weekend but a friend assures me its rammed and loads of kids about so if you don't want that pleasure, go during the week. I really fancy trying one of the moonlit dinners, it looked beautiful in photos. read more

The Secret Herb Garden - Glasshouse - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Midlothian, MLN

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I'll probably just repeat what has already been said here but... the Secret Herb Garden really is a brilliant place. It's in the former location of Damhead Organics and, while it has benefited from the infrastructure that was already in place, they've made leaps and bounds in putting up new polytunnels and getting new ground under cultivation. The cafe is small but sells lovely coffee, teas (including fresh home made herbal types), cakes, quiche, and the aforementioned fabulous flower filled salads. There is however quite a lot of seating in the flower-filled greenhouse which is also very child-friendly. They've got chickens and quails (which presumably help with the quiche making) as well as pigs. They're also selling Scottish heritage varieties of fruit trees, so I know where I'll be going when we get more apple trees in this winter. My favourite bit is the bee observatory, as well as (of course) their absolutely fantastic honey that was so popular last year it sold out before Christmas and won't be available again until around September. It's a great place to visit but I think what really makes it stand out are the owners. You often find the wife in the cafe though she also works out with the plants. The husband is always out in the garden- working and interacting with customers. It's the hard work and dedication displayed by both of them that makes this place really magical. read more

Gorgeous setting in the shadow of the Pentland Hills to the south of Edinburgh, not far from IKEA. Greenhouses growing herbs, cafe selling fabulous homemade coffee, cakes , soups etc as well as gifts. Perfect place to go to get away from the city. read more

The Secret Herb Garden - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Midlothian, MLN

Really liked the Secret Herb garden! Popped out here on a dreich day to check out what was on offer. No herbs bought this time but I plan on bringing family members with gardens here to pick out some unusual herbs. As Emma has noted - cola, tangerine and hazelnut scents. It really is a pity that reviews don't come with added smellivision as it was amazing wandering round and sticking our noses in herbs. The strawberry mint would be perfect in a fruity mojito. It is that kind of place that makes you think about what fits where ingredient wise. There is also a cute shop with coffee and cakes and various deli items. Not the cheapest for the deli items but some unusual, Scottish produced items so worth it for the availablity. I liked how you can sit in the cafe but also outside in the greenhouses on reclaimed furniture (yep, more reclaimed furniture but it fits here) with your coffee and cakes. There is GF cake available - usually at least two options but they were low when I was in. There's also seating for small people too as well as small people gardening accessories which are very cute. So 4 stars from me till I sample the coffee and cake, but I'll definitely be back! read more

The average rating for this place make sense, given by default. There just aren't many other (if any) greenhouses housing quaint home-styled cafes in main cities like Edinburgh. I suppose that is the main draw. The bigger seating area outside hosts around it, a few varieties of herbs and its species. Its a cute concept and the main conservatory functions as a gazebo with a mini walk around path. Elderflower tea was aromatic, better than generic tea. Pretty lavender cupcakes were enticing enough for me to get one. The cake itself was delicious but icing and flower garnish were more for decoration than taste. As a whole, 'eh' and for three quid I'd pass with a 'nay'. Disappointing that I didn't get to try the herb flower salad since there were strands of tangled hair with my leaves. When I took it back, the other staff were apologetic yet the one who took our orders and brought the food was too preoccupied to care. Cafe was not bad, decent but we were let down with the herb garden. A place calling itself THE Secret herb Garden has upped the ante. Yet the variant range of potted plants while respectively classed, did not make up for the sore lack of more that was expected. Not bad, good for families with children & class sessions in their "school" would probably only be back if an idyllic summertime provides an optimistic outlook. A-ok but maybe not for me. read more

I'd heard about the recently opened Secret Herb Garden through twitter, so decided to pay it a visit on Saturday. Located in damhead, near the hillend ski slope it's a combination of herb garden (not just a clever name) and small tearoom and deli. After spending ages deliberating what to buy we picked up a few random potted herbs which are very reasonably priced. They have a vast range of herbs in a massive greenhouse which you can walk around, not just your standard run of the mill basil and rosemary, but many variations and more 'medicinal herbs'. One such herb that caught my is the Strawberry Mint - it smelled wonderful and I know I am likely to visit again to pick up a pot! We also treated ourselves to tea and cake in the tearoom, I had a delicious Carrot Cake with an Orange and violet Frosting, and I went for the Scotch Grey Tea, their take on an Earl Grey but with Heather rather than Bergamot. They have teamed up with Pekoe Teas to create their own blends as well. You can enjoy your tea and cake either in the deli or in the greenhouse on the armchairs that are scattered about. A great little spot with lovely friendly owners, definitely worth a visit! read more

visited here the other day, lovely surroundings. it was very busy but the staff seemed to tackle it with grace. i was served by a teenage girl, curly dark blonde hair. she was very smiley and all round great, had a nice little chat and was very polite. food was very good and hearty. will definitely return!! read more

This has been THE find of 2015 for me. Had no idea it was there until I came across it by accident when visiting the Vet School. Paid an impromptu visit, was blown away and have been back several times since. It is just delightful. Fresh food and drinks made from some of their own home grown produce, herbs and plants grown in their greenhouse, an upcycling shop, a food shop with some of their home made drinks and jams etc and then household items like hand made soft furnishings, candles made from their own bees wax and honey from their own bees - this place even has its own apiary! Best visited when it is quiet, early morning, before those who are in on this secret descend on the place. read more