DUNVEGAN CASTLE GARDENS
ISLE of SKYE
| Dunvegan Castle is famous as the last hiding
place of Bonnie
Prince Charlie before he left Scotland for exile in France.
It is the home of the Chief of Clan Macleod, the Macleod of Macleod. The castle is worth visiting for its historic connections but the garden is of equal or greater merit for the visitor. The garden consists of three main areas: |
The Water Garden at Dunvegan 
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The Wild or Water Garden |
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After entering by the
main gate you proceed down the approach to the castle.
The Waterfall in the Wild Garden |
On your left after about 100 yards there is a view point on a cliff
from which you can obtain a view of the castle over the water garden.
The main feature of this
garden
is a fine natural waterfall from which a burn runs through the garden
before
entering the sea below the castle. There are pathways and bridges allowing a choice of routes. The garden is planted with shrubs and trees with an under story of interesting perennial plants and bulbs. These provide colour, shape and structure throughout the year. |
The Round Garden |
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| This part
of the garden
is a semi-formal area circumscribed by a hedge. There are some notable
trees including a large Monkey Puzzle (Aurucaria aurucaria). It
was probably the main pleasure garden of the castle in past times and
indeed
it still is. There is a central circular bed like a wheel with the
spokes
of the wheel delineated by small box hedges. The planting here has
been,
for the past year or two, bedding or annual creating a pleasing splash
of summer colour. At the periphery there are mixed herbaceous and shrub borders. |
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The Round Garden  |
The Walled Garden  |
The Walled Garden |
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| Once, no
doubt, the
kitchen garden, this has been transformed recently. Constrained within
a
rectangle of walls interest has been created by the construction of a
pyramid
planted with alpines, a formal pond and a romanesque dais with a
semi-circle
of stone seats. The old fruit trees on the walls have been retained in part and exciting new planting carried out to create avenues and walkways with pergolas. A new greenhouse contains a collection of sub-tropical plants. Other areas of gardening interest include a Mediterranean garden and a thriving Fernery |
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Visiting DunveganThe gardens are open all year round. The Castle and associated facilities, including Macleods Table Restaurant are open as follows:Mid March to end October..................10.00 am - 5.30 pm November to mid March..................... 11.00 am - 4.00 pm The Castle is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day |
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| Besides the castle and
gardens there
is a great deal to do and see at Dunvegan. A visit to the castle web site www.dunvegancastle.com will enlighten you, |
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| If you would like a garden tour which will visit Dunvegan amongst other gardens in that area, please go to the Garden Tours page, on this web site. |
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