Scottish garden is a treasure-trove of plants from exotic locations

The Herald Scotland

17-05-2025

At the moment the garden's huge collection of rhododendrons and azaleas are putting on a show-stopping display, filling the garden with scent and colour. Some of the specimens are the size of trees and not only are they smothered in flowers, but their huge paddle-shaped leaves are backed with indumentum, a rust-coloured velvety substance that adds to the display.
Alongside these grow plants from East Asia and South America including Chatham Island Forget-Me-Nots which are super-sized versions of the cottage garden favourite.
Today Arduaine, with its leafy canopy, sheltered glades and open, sunny lawns is so much part of the landscape that it is hard to believe that it hasn't always been here but in fact nothing would grow on this rocky promontory if it hadn't been for the vision of tea planter, James Campbell, who, at the start of the 20th century, decided that this was where he was going to establish a garden.
Arduaine (Image: Ken Whitcombe)
There were challenges at the time when the Douglas firs that were planted as a shelter belt were eaten by rabbits and those challenges continued recently, when the National Trust for Scotland, who now care for Arduaine, had to fell hundreds of trees in a bid to halt the outbreak of the fungal disease, Phytophthora.
Today, however, Arduaine continues to flourish and now is a good time to visit, when the Candelabra primulas are starting to open their colourful whorls of flowers and growth in the herbaceous borders is starting to get underway.
The garden is criss-crossed by good paths, making it very accessible and some of the paths lead through the shelter belt to the coastline from where there are spectacular views towards the low-lying Slate islands which, during the 19th century supplied the roofs for Glasgow and much of central Scotland. There's also the chance to spot the seals and porpoises that live in these waters.
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The garden itself is teeming with wildlife and one of the best places to catch a glimpse of it is around the ponds, which are lined with damp-loving plants.
There are good views over the garden and over the surrounding coastline from the Loch Melfort Hotel, which sits at the gates to Arduaine. From the large outdoor dining deck the garden's tree canopy is clearly visible and so too is the Sound of Jura, which makes a stunning backdrop to some of the best sunsets in Scotland.
Directions
Arduaine is 20 miles south of Oban and 19 miles north of Loch Gilphead on the A816
Details
The garden is open daily, 10am - 5pm
Tickets: £10/£7.50/£5/£1 (Young Scot)
In association with Discover Scottish Gardens www.discoverscottishgardens.org.