Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre, Buddhist monastery in Eskdalemuir, Scotland.
Kagyu Samyé Ling is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Eskdalemuir, Scotland, built with traditional Tibetan architecture, temples, and meditation gardens. The site sits in a valley near the River Esk and includes various buildings for teachings and spiritual practice.
The monastery was founded in 1967 by Akong Rinpoche and Chögyam Trungpa, initially using a former hunting lodge called Johnstone House. From these modest beginnings, it grew into an internationally recognized Buddhist center.
Artists here follow the Karma Gadri tradition and create thangka paintings that depict religious scenes and figures. Visitors can watch these detailed works taking shape in the studios.
The center offers meditation courses and Buddhist teachings throughout the year, with daily opening hours from 9 AM to 5 PM. Visitors can also stay overnight and join structured programs or explore the grounds at their own pace.
The site's Victory Stupa was among the first Buddhist monuments built in Western Europe during the 20th century and remains a distinctive landmark. This structure reflects the founders' early commitment to establishing an authentic Buddhist presence in Scotland.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
