Loch Melfort is situated in the perfect area for exploring the beauty of Argyll, with surrounding gardens, wildlife and views. The nearby gardens are absolutely stunning, no matter what time of year it is.
Argyll boasts 20 gardens, spread across the mainland and Inner Hebrides, ranging from winding woodland paths, to walled gardens brimming with plants, and secret, hidden away gardens.
Arduaine
Right next door to Loch Melfort, Arduaine is a beautiful woodland garden which offers the perfect place for a gentle stroll out from our grounds.
No matter the season, the weather on the West Coast can be described as unique – the Gulf Stream keeps it relatively warm during the Spring and Summer months, but during Autumn and Winter things can become wet and wild, the weather Scotland is more famously known for.
Arduaine Gardens are famous for their rhododendrums, with hundreds of varieties and hybrids growing all around the world-famous garden. Some varieties are considered to be rather delicate and difficult to grow. These flowers have a special place at Arduaine, with one of our favourite varieties being the rhododendron macabeanum, with its beautiful white flowers.
Argyll Gardens
If you are looking to take a trip further afield, there is plenty of choice. A 35 minute drive north is Ardmaddy Castle Gardens, situated on the beautiful Ardmaddy Estate. Ardmaddy offers an extensive range of gardens, perfect for a day trip visit from Loch Melfort. It is a real garden for all seasons: in the early spring months, the garden is full of wild garlic, with its rich, perfumey smell. The beautiful water gardens are brimming with damp loving plans and grasses, a lovely place for a walk any time of the year. During autumn, as the leaves are changing, the garden is still vibrant and full of life, with gorgeous autumn hues of red and orange bursting through.
Oakbank is only a half hour drive south of us here at Loch Melfort, down near Ardrishaig. Situated in three acres of woodland, it is full of thriving rhododendrons and a vast selection of wild flowers. Hidden away are some slightly more unique additions, with red squirrels, a treehouse and even a secret garden just waiting to be explored.
The Inner Hebrides offer some of the more remote gardens, with Colonsay boasting one of Scotland’s remotest gardens. With its own lighthouse and golf course, Colonsay has plenty to offer. The garden is considered to have one of the finest rhododendron collections in Scotland, and with the woodland gardens covering some 20 acres, they are perfect for an autumn stroll.
After a day exploring nature, relax in comfort by our cosy open fire and even treat yourself to a dram! Slainte!