The Jupiter Artland

Found out about this place last year after the season had closed. Made it out this year and was lucky enough to be treated to a private gardener’s tour by the head gardener. Who told us a lot about the grounds as well as the sculptures.
Considering the whole thing is on a private estate with all artwork purchased by the owners, it’s absolutely spectacular.
There’s a variety of work ranging from letters to sculptures that have their own field!
They also have animals and a duck pond. Great place to take kids as well.
Highly recommend making the effort to get out there!

A country estate, with ponds, woodlands, wildernesses… and art work? Yes, you read that correctly. Jupiter Artland is the park surrounding Bonnington House but it’s also a carefully curated gallery of sculptures by some of Britain’s leading artists including Sir Anthony Gormley (he of the Angel of the North fame), Charles Jenks and Ian Hamilton Finlay (whose sculpture garden Little Sparta in nearby Dunsyre served as inspiration for Jupiter Artland).
Despite what other reviews say, it’s actually reasonably accessible by public transport as the First bus 27 drops you right by the gates (just get off when you see the bus turn right onto the B7105 for East Calder). You’ve got a ten minute walk up the drive, passing by some of the art along your way, before you reach the car park and, a little further on, the steadings that serve as café, gift shop and home to some of the seasonal exhibitions. Entry is a pretty reasonable £8.50 for adults (£4.50 concession), and whilst it would be possible to do the walk without paying (without a map and backtracking a fair bit), that wouldn’t be right, given it’s a non profit organisation and I’m sure a lot of upkeep is required (it is a working farm too).
You’re given a map and are free to choose your own route, but the one suggested takes about 2 hours and brings you past all the art, so I’d advise sticking to it so as not to miss out. There’s an app you can download too which provides even more information, as well as images of previous years’ artwork in situ, but alas it’s only available on iPhones.
We were lucky to visit on an absolutely beautiful day, with the sun hitting our backs as we trekked and admired. It’s really one for all ages, as the youngest member of our team, at a mere 5 months old, was entranced by everything. To say too much about what you’ll discover would be to spoil the experience, but suffice to say the sculptures range from awe-​inspiring, to creepy, from colourful to morbid.
Unfortunately it’s only open during the summer, so you’ll have to get there quick if you want to visit this year. We will definitely be back!

Jupiter Artland is a real hidden gem of a… well actually I’m not really sure what it is. Country estate? Landscape garden? Woodland walk? Gigantic art installation? Psychedelic outdoors funhouse? Probably all of those things.
I want to tell you all about it, but Jupiter Artland is best explored yourself. Unlike your more conventional art exhibition, there are no signs telling you where to look or what you are looking at. At Jupiter Artland you have you mind slightly blown on the way in by the amazing landscaping, then at the ticket office you are given a map and sent on your way. It is then up to you to find your way around the many paths and avenues (some more well defined than others) and discover all the amazing things there are to see.
It’s great fun! As you walk through the lovely old wood with its barely-​manicured flora and big old trees, you will occasionally turn a corner or come over the brow of a hill to see some striking object, bizarrely misplaced in the forest as if from some mad hallucination. You get a genuine sense of wonder and discovery.
The attention to detail that has gone into this place is wonderful to see. From the carefully placed stepping-​stone paths to the minimalist signage, everything is managed with a light-​touch but has been extremely well thought out and perfectly executed.
In terms of practicalities, Jupiter Artland is an almost entirely outdoors activity, so come when the weather is nice (or at least dry!). You can get the First 27 or x27 (*not* the Lothian 27) from quite a few stops between Regent Road, along Princes Street, up Dalry Road (including the stop on Dalry Road near Haymarket), and all the way along to Gorgie Road. The bus comes about every half an hour and, at the time of writing, costs £5.80 for an adult return. There’s no official stop at Jupiter Artland, but the drivers know where it is and will stop if you ask them. Similarly, there’s no stop on the other side of the road for the journey back, but stand on the pavement just outside the gate when you’re ready to come home, stick your arm out and the bus will happily stop for you.
As part of the experience is exploration and discovery, you’ll probably enjoy it more if you avoid the crowds. If you can, I would recommend going on a weekday when it’s likely to be much quieter. If you can only manage a weekend, it’s probably much quieter early in the morning. We went bang in the middle of the day on a sunny Saturday, though, and it didn’t feel overly crowded (although a few less darling Tarquins and Hugos being pushed around in buggies would have been nice).
On the whole, Jupiter Artland is a unique, amusing and utterly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. If you like to have your entertainment fast, loud and in your face, then Jupiter Artland is not for you. If you like to wander, take photos and say «wow, what’s that thing??», then I implore you to set your sails for Jupiter.

I’ve never been a fan of paid adverts. But in this case, I’m willing to tip my hat to the brand-​spankin’ new signage alongside the bus stops on Princes Street. If not for them a big, glossy picture of Jupiter Artland wouldn’t have caught my eye, and I wouldn’t have counted myself lucky enough to have scoped out this relatively unheard of place!
Jupiter Artland is set a bit outside of Edinburgh, out past the airport. This doesn’t mean it’s unreachable by car by any means unlike what another reviewer said – as a matter of fact, the ball ‘n chain and I navigated quite successfully by way of the First Buses, from which the 27 comes quite regularly (every thirty minutes or so). It deposited us directly outside the front gate of Jupiter, which was totally fine by us. (The bus drivers seem a bit friendlier than your normally stone-​faced Lothian bus drivers, and ours was happy enough to offer advice on where and when to get the bus back.)
From the gate it’s a bit of a hoof through the winding drive to the main ticket office of Jupiter. If you’re limited in mobility, or taking toddlers via prams, it’s perhaps worth considering having a car as there are no sidewalks, only grass alongside the road. Aside from that the roads as well as paths later on are either paved or very well packed down (we did see one scooter on the path, although access isn’t available to all exhibits). It’s a little confusing figuring out where exactly you should be going upon entry, as you do pass an «exhibit» or two on your way in, but if you follow the main road you’ll eventually find yourself where you should be: the ticket office, and the art contained within the grounds beyond.
And what a grounds it is! I’m totally impressed. With a student ID you pay an extremely reasonable fee of 4.50 to get in, otherwise it’s around 8 pounds for an adult (worth it). This place has it all: green space, excellent ambling paths through shaded forests, interactive art exhibits, and lovely, lovely views all around. Man! I can absolutely understand why I saw this place mentioned as a «photographer’s dream.» It’s a total blast turning this way and that, scoping out anything from grassy knolls full of layers and curves and shapes and reflections in the water, to a sloping pathway that leads down to a room entirely full of walls of amethysts. Seriously – talk about a childhood dream I’d never realized I had, fulfilled!
I think the best way to describe this place is whimsical. It’s charming, it’s engaging, it’s thought-​provoking. My husband and I enjoyed every second of our wander, and wander you can to your heart’s content. They say on their map that it takes about two hours to get through the entire place, but we spent a wee bit longer taking shelter from a smattering of rain quite happily beneath the boughs of a huge old beech, and later on having a picnic on the grounds. It’s sort of like if a museum met with a botanic garden: all the big old trees and shady undergrowth you can handle, as well as a smattering of excellent exhibits that your strolls casually encounter. (Although I did find the weeping girls creepy as all get-​out, I’ll admit they made for an excellent ambiance in the shady forest.)
Even better, this is a place made for all ages: we saw young wee children sliding down the grassy knolls, saw moms pushing prams all over town, and elderly couples scoping out the art alongside us. There are even some «hands on» booths just near the café where children can create art, and it seems that there are some special events offered now and again. It’s seriously a really fun outing for everyone.
Super glad I discovered this charming place. Would be more than happy to return with more friends or family in the future.

Jupiter Artland is a strange and wonderful place. It’s one of those places that you can’t help wondering how they manage to survive; for one thing it’s next to impossible to get to without a car, and on initial inspection it doesn’t seem to have much going on to sustain interest. But don’t be deceived — vanity project it may be, but this is a veritable wonderland of mystery waiting to be discovered as you walk around the grounds.
Arriving through the wonderfully ornate gates gives you a hint that something special lies ahead. The narrow road winds through the woodland estate, with the occasional passing place (the same road leads in and out — something they could do with remedying at the earliest opportunity), until suddenly you emerge between two huge grassy mounds, part of Charles Jencks’ magnificent land forms installation (for me the main highlight of the place). After this the road deteriorates into an unsurfaced track until you reach the car park — again something that needs addressing urgently. The car park itself is located quite a way from the entrance and shop, although there is disabled parking a little closer. The warm orange-​painted Bonnington House is glimpsed through hedges and trees as you approach the main.courtyard.
There’s a café here serving coffee and lunches, and a shop with a select assortment of artistic goodies for the more discerning giftaholics, and from there you are free to take off in whatever direction you like along the woodland paths, where some amazing pieces of contemporary art await discovery. Get a free map from the shop where you pay your entrance fee, and set off into the unknown. It’s an adventure akin to entering wonderland, and you can wander to your heart’s content, discovering all the secret places and pondering the significance of the placement of the artworks, which have all been sited in accordance with some geomantic plan.
After the Jencks landforms, I think my favourite was the amethyst grotto, a highly energetic space that I couldn’t stay in for more than a couple of minutes. But there are many artworks to choose from, and a walk around the estate could easily become a great adventure for children — or adults who can recall that sense of childlike wonder.

It’s comtemporary, it’s arty, it’s all outside in the fresh air and it’s like stepping into the world of Narinia with Alice in Wonderland!
The scuptures are really great, gets the dust of that thinking cap and excites you to see what is round the next corner.
They say it takes about 2 hours to walk round the estate, so be prepared to walk as you wil have to walk. But it’s a wonderful walk!
Getting there you will need a car, however I did see people walk all the way up from the estate entrance! I’m not sure if there is a local bus service, so you may wan to check that out.
There is a café, gift shop and toilets but only in the same area as where you buy the tickets. So go and spend a penny before you set round the sculptures as i didn’t see any after the vIsitor centre!
You will have a great time, it’s a breath of fresh air!

Jupiter Artland is a magical little sculpture world. I am so glad that Edinburgh has such a place and that Robert & Nicky Wilson had the vision to create such an inspiring sculpture garden.
Unlike other art spaces, you come across the commissioned art pieces rather than being directly led to them. You can wandering around the paths at your own pace and take in, not only the artwork but the beautiful grounds as well.
My favourite pieces were The Boathouse and the Amethyst Cave, which delighted me in their simplicity & beauty.
The garden is only open from around May — October but throughout the year they have an extensive program for children & schools. During their open season they often have fun, one off events, like a Blue Moon picnic.
Unfortunately, but understandably it is not dog friendly but it will be a delight for children of all ages (and lots of paths to make buggy pushing easy!).
A hip silver bullet camper van holds the café which serves lovely cakes and the shop/​café buildings have been done with exquisite taste. I have sat for long periods just drinking coffee by the café and looking out at the gorgeous views.
A place to go to be inspired and soak up some natural beauty enhanced by stunning, thoughtful works of sculpture.

This contemporary sculpture garden has all the whimsy and adventure of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland — from the giant psychedelic ‘Orchid’ by Marc Quinn to the eerie ‘Weeping Girls’ by Laura Ford, seemingly alone and lost among the woodland.
The sculptures were commissioned by the garden’s owners Robert and Nicky Wilson and are all inspired by the surrounding landscape. Out with the confinements of stark gallery walls, nature breathes life into these pieces and that is makes Jupiter Artland such a majestic place.