Other gardens to visit on Bute:
Mount Stuart
300 acres and 300 years of fascinating and constantly evolving gardening at Mount Stuart make it a must see for all visitors to Bute. Designed upon an exquisite natural canvas provided by the island’s lush habitat and picturesque shoreline, today, they are amongst Europe’s finest vibrant gardens, wilderness and woodland.
Mount Stuart has an exotically planted 5 acre wee garden, an elaborate rock garden designed by Thomas Mawson, a Pinetum, a Kitchen Garden containing culinary and medicinal delights and an elegant glass house pavilion, a contemporary garden surrounding the award winning visitor centre, not to mention countless enjoyable walks through the policies and plants for sale. There are also vast carpets of snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells to delight in depending on the time of year you visit.
www.mountstuart.com
Ardencraig Gardens
Recently described as having the "best display of summer bedding anywhere in Scotland" this beautiful walled garden and glasshouses at their finest in July & August are run by Argyll and Bute council and have been developed to create a propagation, education and show garden with new cultivars introduced annually. The plants cultivated at Ardencraig are used throughout the Argyll and Bute region. There are a number of aviaries housing a range of foreign bird species that have been built to provide further interest - these are very popular with visiting children! The vibrant, well maintained displays in Rothesay are highly praised and enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike.
http://www.gardens-of-argyll.co.uk/gardens/ardencraig-gardens.html
Further Afield:
The Glorious Gardens of Argyll and Bute is a group of 19 gardens offering a range of different styles and settings. Most of the gardens were planted in the Victorian era and have many splendid specimen trees and shrubs from all over the world. The west coast of Scotland is known for its mild climate, thanks to the Gulf Stream, and many tender plants and shrubs can be grown here.
Dunoon & Cowal peninsula - Easily accessible by the Rhubodach-Colintraive ferry on quiet roads with beautiful scenery.
Benmore Victorian Fernery - A recently restored fernery in Benmore Gardens on the Cowal Peninsula.
Other Links:
www.sarahwhittingham.co.uk
An architectural and garden historian & author of The Victorian Fern Craze, published by Shire Books.
Visit Bute - All the information you need when planning your trip to Bute.
Bute Photography - Black and white portraits of The Isle of Bute from standing stones to donkeys.
groundfloorcomingup - The creator of this website.