Inverewe Garden in Wester Ross is a 54 acre garden at a latitude north of Moscow, where you can find everything from palm trees to Himalayan rhododendrons!
The garden was established in 1862 by Osgood Mackenzie, who had the foresight to plant acres of trees to form a shelter belt. This, together with the Gulf Stream which warms the west coast of Scotland, is the reason why plants that you would not expect so far north, flourish in this unlikely location.
Osgood's daughter Mairi Sawyer inherited the garden on his death, and on her own death wished it to be opened to the nation. Since then it has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
In its heyday Inverewe was known as one of the world's great gardens. On a sunny day the garden still offers an opportunity for the casual visitor to while away an hour or two, and the serious botanist will also find things to interest them.
