Dunrobin Castle Garden
Dunrobin Castle, GOLSPIE, Sutherland KW10 6SF
In 1850, the 2nd Duke of Sutherland had Sir Charles Barry extend his Highland castle into a French-style chateau. Inspired by this, Barry then turned his attention to the garden. He designed a smaller version of the vast Italianate garden he had recently completed for the Duke’s Staffordshire Estate at Trentham.
At its height, the head gardener’s domain comprised: two walled gardens including fruit and vegetables and flower borders inside and out; back-up nursery gardens and greenhouses; and beyond, extensive parkland with walks and coastal views. Although much of this has now reverted to woodland, the surviving East Walled Garden, with its three parterres each surrounding a pool and fountain, provides a perfect view from the castle and terrace, as well as a fitting foreground to the panoramic view across the Moray Firth to the distant Cairngorm Mountains.
In recent years, overgrown topiary features have been tamed and new ones created. Fine herbaceous borders have been restored and the parterres reinterpreted with formal plantings of perennials. A central grove of overgrown trees has been removed to make way for a formal layout of smaller trees surrounding a grass glade. A new formal garden features 20 wooden pyramids supporting flowering and fruiting climbers, surrounded by a jewel-box of colourful perennials framed by stepover apple trees.
You can’t miss huge clumps of Gunnera, giant rhubarb from South America, also known as “Dinosaur Food” for its Jurassic luxuriance. Look out for 100-year-old Fuchsia varieties, including the garden’s own “Dunrobin Bedder”, raised there in 1890.
This autumn, the garden has also reprised their kale border feature, growing the ancient landrace Shetland Kale alongside an old Sutherland kale variety and a selection of modern cultivars in many colours and textures. The border is presided over by a highland tattie-bogle.
The garden hosts falconry displays at 11.30am and 2pm every day until 30th September.
Website: www.dunrobincastle.co.uk
Telephone: 01408 633177
Opening times: 10.00 – 17.00 June to September (last entry 4.30), 10.30 – 16.30 April, May & October
Admission costs: Adult £11.50, Children £7, Concession £9.50, Family £34 (2 adults and up to 3 children) Costs include entry to the castle, museum and falconry.
Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org
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