Our recent holiday to the West Coast of Scotland was described by B as a week of Sundays, which I think is a rather lovely way of looking at it. It did turn out to be a series of perfect days (Day 1 Glencoe & Eilean Donan, Day 2 Isle of Skye) and this was another. After leaving Skye, we were heading for Applecross and joining the North Coast 500 route proper, including driving the famous Bealach Na Ba pass. Under dark clouds, we headed north, via a coffee (and internet) stop at misty Plockton, before taking up a recommendation to visit Attadale Gardens at Strathcarron. Despite the rain (and the midgies) I’m rather glad we stopped; Attadale Gardens turned out to be one of my favourite parts of our road trip.
Attadale Gardens form part of the Attadale Estate, a 30,000-acre highland estate which stretches from Loch Carron to Loch Monar north of Skye and east of the Applecross peninsula. The estate was Clan Matheson but after bankruptcy it was bought by Baron Schroder (a German banker) in the late 19th century, whose son Captain William Schroder was a plant collector and started a garden on the estate, importing rhododendrons from all over the world. After Baron Schroder died, the estate was bought by Ian Macpherson, whose family still own the estate and gardens. After the garden was destroyed in the 1980s by storms, the present owner Nicky Macpherson built the gardens you can see today.
What that short history doesn’t tell you is actually how lovely Attadale Gardens actually are! The current owner is a painter and you can tell; every turn is a view worthy of picking up a paint brush. There are so many shades of green, brown, oranges… than I ever knew existed. Hidden between the huge rhododendrons and specimen trees are quirky sculptures, monet-style bridges & architectural benches, beautiful greenhouses and even a Japanese water garden waiting to be found. We even had a go at making our own sculptures, stacking stones to create our own little altars of peace before hiding in amongst the ferns to shelter from the rain.
We were made to feel very welcome by the owner’s daughter who we managed to catch for a chat about the history of the garden, and after a couple of hours of wandering, we still felt very reluctant to leave. I kept spotting something else to explore, wonderful views of Skye, a beautiful Japanese maple in full purple bloom (my favourite tree), a rather magnificent redwood (give it another 100 years, you will probably see it from Skye!) and lots of tags all over the trees to read (great for a tree geek like me) and a finally a lovely sculptural quote from Leith’s Graciela Ainsworth, Life is not a rehearsal. Words to live by I think.
This is a botanical garden with a family heart. It is rather lovely.
We finally dragged ourselves away, and carried on northwards, facing the Pass of the Cow with much trepidation. The lovely folks at Attadale had passed on a recommendation for the Bealach Cafe, where we stopped for rather good sandwiches before facing the road ahead. As for the pass, well I was far far to nervous to take any photos, so you will just have to experience it yourself. It is one for the bucket list. I have never been happier to see a pub at the end – next up our stay at the Applecross Inn.
Love from, Scotland x
Location: Strathcarron in Wester Ross, West Highlands of Scotland
Open: 10am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays, from 30th March until the 29th October 2015
Cost: Adult: £6.00, 65+: £4.00, Child: £1.00
Amenities: There is an honesty box cafe on site
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