The 40 acres of exotic trees, shrubs and flowers which make Armadale Castle Gardens, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, are remarkable for their beauty and for their very existence. The warm, generally frost-free, climate of the west coast of Scotland – a result of the Gulf Stream allow the sheltered gardens to flourish. Although there have been gardens at Armadale since the 17th century, it was just over two hundred years ago, that the planting began which was to create the gardens you see today. There was further development in Victorian times, with expanses of lawn intermittently planted with trees and shrubbery. A walled kitchen garden and glass-houses would have provided the Castle with freshly grown produce. When the Clan Donald Lands Trust took over, the gardens were overgrown and neglected. Several years of hard pruning and rebuilding and planting around the centrepiece of Armadale Castle has resulted in 40 acres of fascinating woodland gardens and lawns that provide a tranquil place to sit or walk.

Magnificent trees, some almost 200 years old, tower above stunning carpets of bluebells, orchids and wildflowers in spring and summer. Sheltered below the giants are the young firs which will eventually replace them, as well as the growing collections of elegant birch and beech trees.

Plants from around the world thrive in this sheltered corner – the vibrant flowers of the ‘Chilean Fire Bush’ (Embothrium), the white stems of the Himalayan Birch which dazzle in winter sunlight, and the cheerful giant daisy flowers of the Celmesias from New Zealand. The mild climate created by the Gulf Stream sea-current and the sheltered aspect make the Gardens a floral paradise.

More recently developed areas such as the ponds, herbaceous borders and terrace walks provide a tranquil place to sit or stroll, with walks through dappled shade and delicate woodland planting linking these sunny havens. Read more…