Ardkinglas Woodland Garden

Ardkinglas is a garden for tree lovers. It sits on the Ardkinglas Estate on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne, close to the village of Cairndow, and the woodland gardens are open all year round. The setting alone makes the trip worthwhile, with views of Ardkinglas House against the loch.

The woodland gardens date back to the eighteenth century, and the arboretum was planted by the Callander family in the 1860s and 1870s. That gives the trees more than 150 years to grow in the mild, wet climate of Argyll, and some are now enormous. A grand fir here held the record for many years as the tallest tree in Britain, and a silver fir is described as the Mightiest Conifer in Europe, with a trunk girth of more than 31 feet. Standing at the foot of these trees is the main reason to visit.

The walk is best taken slowly, looking up as well as along the paths. Gardeners will learn about how big conifers can become with time and space, which is a useful reality check before planting one in a small garden. The paths run through mature woodland, so expect damp, uneven ground and wear waterproof boots. Ardkinglas House, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, is only open on a limited basis, so the garden is the main draw for most visitors. Cairndow is on the main road to Inveraray, so Ardkinglas fits easily into a drive around Loch Fyne.