Inverewe Garden and Estate

Created out of bare rock and a few scrub willows by the revolutionary Osgood Mackenzie in the 1860s, the gardens at Inverewe have been sculpted carefully and thoughtfully over time.

This outstanding 20-ha (50-a) garden, impressively set on a peninsula on the shore of Loch Ewe, is still astonishing today. The warm currents of the North Atlantic Drift or Gulf Stream help nurture an oasis of colour and fertility, where exotic plants from many countries flourish on a latitude more northerly than Moscow. Himalayan rhododendrons, Tasmanian eucalypts, a large collection of New Zealand plants (including the National Collection of Olearia), diverse Chilean and South African introductions combine to give a colourful display throughout the year. Marked footpaths provide access to the wider estate with its lochside wildlife hide and opportunities to spot all kind of birds and wildlife throughout the year.

At the heart of the garden lies Inverewe House, which was built by Osgood’s adventurous and pioneering daughter Mairi Sawyer. Following a £2million restoration and reinvigoration by the National Trust for Scotland in 2016, the house opened to the public for the first time in its history.

Within each of the refurbished rooms you are taken on an interactive and immersive journey through time to discover the inspiring story behind Inverewe and learn more about its colourful creators. Everyone who visits is encouraged to explore and discover the house’s hidden gems up-close and each room offers a different element of surprise and delight which will ignite the senses. You can recreate your own Inverewe garden at home at the ‘pick and mix’ Seed Bar in the kitchen.

Located less than two hours from Inverness, the journey to Inverewe itself is spectacular, as you drive through stunning Highland scenery to reach it. Inverewe’s dynamic offering will appeal to horticultural enthusiasts, adventure lovers, families, day trippers and tourists. It’s a must stop destination on the North Coast 500, with visitor facilities, 100 seat café, gift shop, toilets, walks and tours in the wider estate as well as free Wi-Fi access.