Stretching more than 100 miles from north to south and with a coastline inundated with lochs and a myriad of islands, the county of Argyll is dramatic and wildly beautiful. Its main islands including Mull, Iona, Coll, Tiree, Lismore, Islay, Jura, Colonsay and Gigha attract thousands of visitors each year and most of them are home to splendid gardens.

The weather

Because of the Atlantic weather systems, which bring high rainfall and westerly winds, gardening in Argyll has been influenced by these factors down the decades. The majority of gardens are in coastal or island areas where the moist, westerly airstreams have a moderating influence, precluding extremes of temperatures. These characteristics provide ideal conditions for plants from many parts of the world, in particular the Sino-Himalayan region, southern south America and southern Australasia. If you don’t want to go trekking in the Himalayas to see these exotic plants why not visit Argyll instead? Glorious Gardens of Argyll is a group comprising 20 gardens spread throughout the mainland of Argyll and on the islands of Bute, Colonsay, Gigha, Jura, Mull and Seil. These gardens, mainly privately owned, vary in size, style and maturity, dating from the 13th to the 20th century.

Coastal gardens

Shelter is vital for coastal gardens, and in places where it is not naturally provided then it has to be created and this has certainly been successfully achieved by many of the stalwart gardeners in Argyll. One prime example is An Cala, near Easdale, which is set snugly into a horseshoe shape surrounded by cliffs and protected by a high wall. With colourful borders, natural rockeries and meandering streams it is well worth a visit. The borrowed seascapes beyond the garden anchor it firmly on the Island of Seil. Walled gardens at Ardmaddy Castle near Oban, Kinlochlaich at Appin and Jura House play their part in keeping the worst of the weather at bay. Ardmaddy rises above its formal walled garden on one side with outstanding views of the islands on the other. There are walks through mixed shrubs, trees and spring flowering bulbs leading to the water gardens and up to the bluebell woods with its rhododendrons more than half a century old. Visitors to Glorious Gardens of Argyll will find one common factor throughout – individuality – ranging from informal woodlands to classic examples of 18th century design. Many of the gardens are planted within natural settings such as Crarae in Mid Argyll, Ardtornish in Morvern and Angus’s Garden near Taynuilt which was created by the late Betty Macdonald in 1957 in memory of her son Angus who was killed in Cyprus. With wonderful views of Ben Cruachan and Glen Etive this is a garden for peaceful walks and one which is famous for its collection of hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas.

The plants

Plant collectors from Victorian times to the present day have brought back seeds and plants to many of Argyll’s gardens. The giant redwood, Sequoiadendron giganteum, can be seen in an early planting as a splendid avenue at Benmore Botanic Garden near Dunoon, while rhododendrons from Joseph Hooker’s Sikkim Expedition of 1849 are still flourishing at Kilmory Woodland Park, just outside Lochgilphead. In the same area, Crarae is a spectacular 50 acre woodland garden centred on the Crarae Burn which tumbles through a rocky gorge in a series of cascades. The garden was acquired by The National Trust for Scotland in 2001 and the national collection of nothofagus is to be found at Crarae.

Mount Stuart

Mount Stuart’s gardens on the Island of Bute date back to c1717 when the 2nd Earl of Bute started to lay out substantial grounds. Various changes and improvements have taken place over the years with the 20th century witnessing the replanting of the rock garden and the remodelling of the Victorian kitchen garden.

Torosay

Another island garden well worth visiting is Torosay on Mull where a unique combination of formal Italianate terraces and dramatic scenery combine to make a spectacular setting. A unique feature of Torosay is that it has its own narrow gauge steam railway that runs from close to the ferry terminal to the castle and gardens. The gardens feature the only Chilean forest in the UK along with an array of plant species rarely seen outside of their native country. Individuality is certainly the common denominator in these gardens, with each one having a variety of terrain – some with level and smooth paths while others are steep and rocky. Facilities at the gardens also vary as some have tearooms while others provide catering for prebooked groups. Some have shops, plant sales and toilets and all do their utmost to provide access for visitors of every age, interest and ability. Whether you are a gardener or not, you cannot fail to be impressed by the effort that has gone into creating these magical gardens throughout Argyll.

Glorious Gardens of Argyll include Achamore, Isle of Gigha; An Cala, Isle of Seil; Angus’s Garden, Taynuilt; Ardchattan Priory, by Oban; Ardencraig, Rothesay; Ardkinglas, Cairndow; Ardmaddy, by Oban; Ardtornish, Morvern; Arduaine, by Oban; Ascog Hall, Isle of Bute; Benmore, Dunoon; Colonsay House, Isle of Colonsay; Crarae, Minard; Geilston, Dumbarton; Glenarn, Rhu; Jura House, Jura; Kilmory Woodland and Park, Lochgilphead; Kinlochlaich, Appin; Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute, and Torosay Castle, Isle of Mull.

fieldfacts

Glorious Gardens of Argyll Tel: 01499 600 261 www.gardens-of-argyll.co.uk See also Gardens of Scotland open under Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Tel: 0131 226 3714 www.gardensofscotland.org