Inverewe Gardens

Tringa · #1 (**permalink**) 29-06-2011, 02:40 PM

This may not appear to be a traditional wildlife area, but if you happen to be in NW Scotland it is well worth a visit.

Apart from being an amazingly good garden and well worth a visit for that reason alone there is also a lot of wildlife in and around it. Being on a peninsular in Loch Ewe it has, in a very small area, woodland, rocky seashore, mudflat and sea loch.

As we are member of NTS we visit most times we are in the area and spent a few hours there yesterday.

Without really looking at all we saw blackbird, robin, blackcap, tree creeper (poor photo attached), herring gull, great blackbacked gull, arctic tern, heron, oystercatcher, mallard, redshank, chiffchaff(heard) and, what I and and another bloke decided, despite it looking a bit odd, was a buzzard.

There is also a hide, which has free access 24/7, overlooking the head of the loch and the list of observations is pretty good. The Gairloch and Loch Eve areas are also supposed to be fairly good for sea eagles, though the last one we saw was in April.

Dave

Dorts · #2 (**permalink**) 29-06-2011, 02:51 PM

It is one of Britain's finest gardens and I would recommend everyone to visit. Lovely part of Scotland, just a pity it's so far away.
Dorts.

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 29-06-2011, 04:26 PM

Yes, this is a place you should visit, its spectacular.
The gardens are built on topsoil brought in by horse and cart many miles in 1840's over rough tracks as the soil was only thin peat, overlying solid rock - and next to the shore, so a windbreak of pines was needed. Add the gulf stream effect and you have a recipe for amazing plants well past their normal zone.
''A hundred years in the highlands'' the book by the creator of Inverewe gardens, Osgood Mackenzie is worth a read along with the other brilliant plant collectors in Victorian times.
Cheers for a great heads up Dave, and memories!
Ken

solus · #4 (**permalink**) 29-06-2011, 09:51 PM

Beautiful place and a "must" if you're in the area.

Just remember the midgie repellent!

Endrick · #5 (**permalink**) 30-06-2011, 01:24 PM

I saw otters and sea eagles just a few miles from there last year. Fantastic area

ChrisJB · #6 (**permalink**) 30-06-2011, 07:23 PM

It's a splendid area around Gairloch and Poolewe. And dear Loch Maree and Slioch not far away either. I might see if the missus fancies another holiday up there next year. I've always fancied staying at nearby Rubha Reidh lighthouse.

Chris

Brocakat · #7 (**permalink**) 28-10-2011, 05:14 PM

In that area , it's really worthwhile getting over to Applecross. The 'Pass of the Cattle' is quite intersting, too.

Dorts · #8 (**permalink**) 28-10-2011, 09:49 PM

The coastal road around the Applecross peninsula is very remote. Wonderfull views over to Raasay, unspoilt beaches and may deserted crofts, relics of the land clearances. Although mostly only a single track road, I would recommend it. I did it out-of-season and we saw no-one throughout the whole 40+ mile journey until we reached Sheildaig.
And then the journey on through the Torridons passing Ben Eighe and on via Loch Maree to the Inverewe Gardens is as good as it gets. Apart from the Eagles and Otters etc, it is a superb area for anyone interested in glaciation.
Dorts.