| Dunvegan Castle, home to the Chiefs of Clan Macleod, has been occupied and owned by that family for nearly eight centuries.
The five acres of gardens,in stark contrast to the barren moorland and mountains that dominate Skye's landscape, are a hidden oasis featuring three main styles of gardening. |
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The Wild or Water Garden |
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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. Pathways and bridges allow a choice of routes through plantings of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. These, with the constant presence of water, provide colour, shape and interest throughout the year. |
The Round Garden |
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| This part
of the garden is a semi-formal area circumscribed by a hedge. Within the hedge are some notable
trees including a large Monkey Puzzle (Aurucaria aurucaria). The centre-piece to the garden is a wheel-like parterre outlined by Box hedges and planted with annual bedding to give a pleasing splash of summer colour. Around the periphery there are mixed herbaceous and shrub borders. |
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The Walled Garden |
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Once, no doubt, the kitchen garden, this has now been transformed. Within the existing rectangle of walls structural interest has been created with a stoneworked representation of the Macleod Clan Parliament seating, a formal pond and a pergola. Some of the old fruit trees on the walls have been retained and exciting new planting has been carried out to compliment and enhance the structural features. |
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Visiting Dunvegan |
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The Castle, Gardens and associated facilities, including Macleods Table Restaurant are open seasonally. Please see the following link for details, OPENING TIMES |
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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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