Inverewe Garden

Osgood Mackenzie’s plan to create a garden from windswept moorland on a rocky peninsula beside Loch Ewe raised a few eyebrows in its day. His vision is still astonishing today, with some of the world’s largest growing trees planted into holes hewn out of the bedrock. He chose his site well. The garden is nurtured by the warm currents of the North Atlantic Drift, and is set amidst some of the country’s finest scenery.

Over time a kaleidoscope of exotic plants has been cultivated, giving colour and interest throughout the year – a plantsman’s paradise with Chinese rhododendrons, Tasmanian eucalypts, Himalayan blue poppies, New Zealand daisy bushes, Chilean lantern-trees, Californian dog’s-tooth violets, South African bulbs, Mediterranean rock roses, and many more besides. Here, ‘America’ and ‘Japan’ are but a stone’s throw apart.

You may even be tempted to follow in the footsteps of the man who ran naked through the garden every morning to bathe in the loch. There’s a walk which follows his route – though we recommend you remain fully clothed, especially late season! Send your children in search of the hairy-armpit tree, or the bamboo in ‘Bambooselem’. There are also other walks leading out from the garden into the surrounding landscape, with its diverse wildlife and spectacular views.

Acquisition details
Inverewe Estate (851ha) given by Mairi T Sawyer, daughter of Osgood Hanbury Mackenzie in 1953

Visitor Facilities
Events

Ranger service

Shop

Plant sales

Suitable for picnics

Parking