Scotland: Gardens of Wester Ross 9764

We depart from our pick-up points (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Kinross and Perth) and travel north, stopping for lunch in Pitlochry (not included). We continue with a visit to the private garden of the Oldtown of Leys. Established in 2003, on the outskirts of Inverness, with views over the town, this large garden of three acres has year-round interest. Spring rhododendrons and azaleas, summer herbaceous plantings, autumn trees and shrubs and winter appeal from the conifers, evergreens and structures. Features include a rockery, ponds, musical instruments, a stumpery and a new area of late summer colour.
Later we will continue to our accommodation in Gairloch, pausing on the way for a brief visit to the spectacular Corrieshalloch Gorge.
We are based at The Old Inn, a historic hotel sitting on the shores of Loch Gairloch, close to the harbour. There is a very pleasant walk by the river in the adjacent Flowerdale Glen.

After breakfast we have a long but most rewarding day as we drive across the north of Scotland to visit Dundonnell House Garden. The house was completed in 1769 by the Mackenzies of Dundonnell, who lived in it until the 1940s. Since then it has had a number of owners, including the late Alan Roger – rumoured to be in MI5, but known locally simply as a plantsman and bonsai expert. The current owner has added delightful new borders for year-round colour, centred on an enormous and ancient yew tree over 300 years old. The main part of the garden lies within very old walls and is divided into distinctive compartments, adding greatly to the interest here; other highlights include riverside walks in the fine arboretum and a restored Victorian glasshouse.
 
Our second visit of the day is to Inverewe gardens, unquestionably one of the most outstanding gardens in the country.  The northern road into Inverewe is spectacular – towering mountains and breathtaking vistas – and the view from above Gruinard Bay has to be seen to be believed. Famous gardens do not always live up to their reputations but it would be hard to imagine anyone failing to be excited by Inverewe, when at this time of year it will be at its most colourful. The balmy Gulf Stream Drift Climate promotes luxuriant growth and today it is a jungle of mature exotic trees and shrubs laced with winding walks, rising and falling, giving sudden glimpses of shimmering water through the foliage.
 
We return to our hotel.

After an early breakfast we travel south through the spectacular scenery of Torridon and cross the graceful arching bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye. Here we visit the award-winning formal gardens at Dunvegan Castle, which began life in the 18th century. In stark contrast to the barren moorland and mountains which dominate Skye’s landscape, the castle’s Water Garden, Rose Garden, Walled Garden and woodland walks provide a hidden oasis for an eclectic mix of flowers, exotic plants, specimen trees and shimmering pools fed by waterfalls and streams flowing down to the sea.
In the afternoon we take the ferry (as foot passengers) from Sconser to Raasay, the ‘Roe Isle’. A pleasant ten-minute walk takes us to the the Raasay Walled Garden. This community-owned project has breathed new life into the old walled garden attached to Raasay House, with a productive fruit and vegetable garden as well as a rose garden and herbaceous borders.
We then return by ferry to Skye and over the bridge to the mainland and arrive back at the hotel in time for dinner, after a long but most rewarding day.

After breakfast we will travel south again, this time via Achnasheen and Achnashellach Forest, to Attadale Gardens. Voted RHS Partner Garden of the Year for Scotland in 2023, Attadale is a gem of a garden on the shores of Loch Carron, where the Gulf Stream influenced micro-climate nurtures 20 acres of outstanding water gardens, old rhododendrons, unusual trees and a fern collection in a geodesic dome. There is also a sunken fern garden developed on the site of an early 19th-century drain, a waterfall into a pool with dwarf rhododendrons, a sunken garden, a peace garden and a kitchen garden. Other features include a conservatory, Japanese garden, sculpture collection and giant sundial.
On our exclusive private visit we will be welcomed and personally guided round the garden by a member of the family and the gardening staff, followed by a light lunch served in the dining room of the main house, which is not normally open to the public.
We return to Gairloch, where there will be an opportunity to visit the Gairloch Museum, housed (though you wouldn’t know it) in a former nuclear bunker. Displays include the original lens from Rubh Re lighthouse, a replica croft house showing how people used to live and an interactive gallery about our magnificent natural world, midges and all!

This morning after breakfast we head for home but we have one more treat in store. After a long but very scenic journey via Invergarry and Forth William, we reach the Kinlochlaich Garden and Plant Centre in Appin. Since it was begun in 1975, it has evolved to become one of the leading Garden Plant Centres in Scotland with some wonderful plants for sale, and the perfect souvenir of your holiday.  They have an extensive range of hardy plants, to suit many conditions, and are always trialling something different, interesting or unusual, and are often able to demonstrate a specimen growing within their gardens.
 
We then return via Glencoe to our original departure points.