Travelling along the shore of Loch Fyne
between Lochgilphead and Inveraray there are a couple of places worth stopping
off at. Crarae Garden managed by the National Trust of Scotland covers 126 acres in a highland glen centring on Crarae Burn. It was planned during the early 20th century
using donated plants and seeds gathered from far-flung expeditions. The garden has some rare trees among its
collection, including the National Collection of nothofagus from the Southern
Hemisphere. In autumn the garden is a
riot of colour thanks to the acers, prunus, sorbus and other colourful
deciduous trees. In the spring it is
time for the rhododendrons, azaleas and other exotic shrubs to strut their
stuff; there are 600 varieties of rhododendron, including some which are
exclusive to Crarae. These delights,
along with the waterfalls and torrents within the garden, can be explored via a
series of winding paths.
Auchindrain is an open air museum displaying a preserved
"township" of the kind which was once common in Scotland, where
families lived and worked together.
Visitors can step inside the buildings and houses and get a good idea of
how people used to live within these communities. It was a hard life, and serves as a reminder
of how mollycoddled we all are now. Townships
such as this disappeared with the emergence of modern farms, crofting and large
estates, most notably during the Highland Clearances. There is a tearoom serving light meals and
cakes, and full access to the site is available from April to October, although
limited access may be possible during the winter months.
Map of the area.
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| Rhododendrons at Crarae. Photo by Gordon Brown, via Wikimedia Commons |
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