Scotland's Best Garden?

06 June 2010

Attadale Gardens, near Lochcarron in Wester Ross, has been voted favourite garden in Scotland by readers of BBC Gardeners World magazine. They also feature in the Best afternoon tea, Most romantic garden and Best day out for kids categories. Nicky Macpherson, wife of Ewen Macpherson, has devoted over thirty years to working with the Highland landscape at Attadale to create a beautiful garden with something for everyone. With a painter's eye and creative planting and judicious planning she has created a wonderful place to wander and enjoy. Head Gardener Geoff Stephenson and his main assistant Frances MacKenzie make up the team who helped to create this winning garden. 

The Victorian owners of Attadale had planted rhododendrons which had run wild on the hillside.  Now there is a water garden, where a mill stream once ran; over 15 sculpture are scattered through the garden; a Japanese garden; a sunken garden by the house; a wonderful collection of ferns housed in the fernery; a well-organised kitchen garden that provides vegetables for the house and local restaurants and there are plants for sale to visitors. 

Attadale Gardens open as part of the Scottish Gardens Scheme in aid of charity - in alternate years they support the Howard Doris Centre in Lochcarron and the Highland Hospice. 

The Gardens are open every day except Sunday, from April through to the end of October - www.attadalegardens.com