Inverewe Gardens from Poolewe
Loch Ewe from Inverewe Gardens
The walled garden at Inverewe
Osgood Mackenzie began Inverewe Gardens in the 1860s on the shores of Loch Ewe,
a place which is on the same latitude as Moscow and Hudson Bay in Canada.
However, due to its proximity to the shore and the gulf stream, the winters are relatively mild.
The area in which the Inverewe Gardens is situated will support some of the least hardy plants grown
anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Indeed at the time of writing, much of the UK has been enveloped in heavy snow,
whilst Inverewe has, for the most part, been cold, but with sun and blue skies and just the odd snow shower.
Inverewe Gardens contains an extraordinary collection of plants from many parts of the world
including South America, New Zealand, the Himalayas and China. A rare acquisition, for the north of Scotland, is
nine Wollemi pines that were discovered in the Wollemi National Park, north west of Sydney in 1994.
The gardens are particularly spectacular when the Azaleas and Rhododendrons are in bloom.
The walled garden contains a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Most of the visitors to the Old Smiddy Guest House spend part of their day walking
gently along the well laid out paths admiring the wealth of
colour and variety of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Indeed several return for a second visit during their stay in the area.
Inverewe Gardens is owned by the National Trust for Scotland so there are reciprocal arrangements to welcome
members of the National Trust from other countries. The gardens are open from spring through to late autumn.
Details of opening times can be found on the National Trust for Scotland website www.nts.org.uk.
Parts of the gardens are open at other times when the entrance is through a small gate beside the visitor centre.
At these times the gardens are free, but always grateful for the donations left in the honesty box by the exit.
The main path through the gardens is relatively flat with only slight inclines and are wheel-
There is also a popular cafe on the opposite side of the car park which can become crowded at busy times.
Beside the restaurant is the start of the Inverewe Gardens Woodland Trail,
a way marked short walk through the forest on the opposite side of the road to the gardens.
The path has recently been upgraded and also now links with the path that circuits Loch Kernsary
The Bridge Cafe, in Poolewe village is small, but excellent and is highly recommended.
On the southern shore of Loch Ewe is the road to Cove which is where the monument to servicemen involved in the Russian covoys if to be found
Before you reach Cove is the old school at Inverasdale which has been converted into a museum detailing the work of the Russian Convoys and the dedication of the service men involved.
Just as Inverewe Gardens is worth a visit so is the Arctic Convoy Museum