Inverewe Garden is a beautiful sub-tropical botanical garden sited on a rocky peninsula on the south eastern side of Loch Ewe, Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands.
This wonderful place lies around 78 miles from Inverness and 230 miles from Edinburgh.
Inverewe Garden © VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
History and Background of Inverewe Garden
Despite the challenging conditions of the region, Inverewe Garden was created in 1862 by Osgood Mackenzie.
He worked tirelessly on the project until he died in 1922. His life’s work was continued by his daughter Mairi Sawyer.
Pauline Butler, a volunteer at Inverewe Garden wrote in 2022 “As a keen and capable plantswoman [ in her own right, she put her personal stamp on Inverewe. The Rock Garden, the ponds and Coronation Knoll on the eastern hillside are all to her credit.”
In 1952, the year before her death, Mairi gifted the garden, along with an endowment for its upkeep, to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) which now manages the property.
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From that modest start, Inverewe Garden, which lies at the same northerly latitude as Moscow and Hudson Bay has now developed into one of Scotland’s best-loved visitor attractions.
Flora & Fauna of Inverewe Garden
As if to contradict HES, the warm currents of the Gulf Stream allow an impressive range of plants, not native to Scotland, to flourish.
Among them are: Himalayan poppies, giant California redwoods, Tasmanian eucalypts, rhododendrons from China and India and the occasional Scots pine.
Inverewe: paths & trails
© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
The garden is criss-crossed by a series of paths which will take you to all corners of the estate. One recent visitor to Inverewe said there was an“unexpected pleasure round every corner.”
As the estate extends to 2000 acres, there is more than just the garden to explore.
The Pinewood Trail for example is a 45-minute circular route which, for the energetic, can be extended by going all the way to nearby Poolewe village.
The distant Torridon hills and Kinlochewe beckon too.
The Kernsary Circular Path (approx 8 miles) takes you through the Inverewe Estate and the nearby Letterewe Estate.
The views over Loch Kernsary, Loch Maree and Loch Ewe across the hills to Beinn Eighe are magnificent, particularly if you are lucky enough to get some good weather.
You can negotiate the trails yourself or take advantage of some of the ranger-led excursions.
Wildlife at Inverewe Garden
Part of the joy of a visit to this lovely place must surely include the chance to stop and watch some of the resident birds and animals. Among them are seals, pine martins, otters and deer.
if you’re really lucky you’ll see curlews, oyster catchers, herons and some of Scotland’s magnificent birds of prey including the white-tailed eagle. There is a lochside hide to enhance the twitcher’s experience
Wildlife one and two hour boat trips on Loch Ewe leave, during the summer months, from the Inverewe Garden jetty.
Inverewe’s Underwater Garden: an exhibition in the summerhouse allows visitors to learn more about the abundant marine wildlife in Loch Ewe.
Inverewe House & Sawyer Gallery
Originally built for Osgood Mackenzie and his mother, it served as a private home for many years.
Today the baronial style house operates as an interactive museum. It’s the ideal place to learn about Inverewe Garden’s history, its creators and diverse plant collections.
Adjacent to the house, the Sawer Gallery is a dedicated contemporary art space showcasing artworks inspired by the garden and its surrounding landscape.
NTS say the gallery is a space “where art seeks to evoke an emotional connection between visitors and the Inverewe experience.”
To complete the experience a newly refurbished visitor centre offers a range of gifts many of which are inspired by Inverewe’s flora and fauna.
Osgood’s Café offers visitors a delightful selection of hot and cold meals and snacks.
With its diverse array of activities and attractions, Inverewe Garden offers something for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a garden lover, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat in the Scottish Highlands.
More information from the National Trust for Scotland
- The NTS website has all the information you need to plan your trip to Inverewe. It includes details of how to get there.
Beyond Inverewe
The garden sits within the Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO in 1976. making it one of the first Biosphere Reserves in the world.
Formerly known as Beinn Eighe, the biosphere is a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. There are many opportunities for walking, hiking, cycling, kayaking, and wildlife watching.
It’s an area of outstanding beauty gloriously filled with mountains, lochs and white sandy beaches.
The North Coast 500 (NC500) road also runs through large sections of Wester Ross. Inverewe Garden which lies close to the road is a popular stopping point.
Among the many places worth visiting within Wester Ross are:
- Ullapool: located on the shores of Loch Broom, Ullapool is a popular place with plenty of visitor facilities.
- Plockton: This lovely village, which can get busy in the summer, has superb views over Loch Carron. It is the ‘jewel of the Highlands’.
- Applecross: Although remote, beautiful and awkward to get to, it’s a hugely rewarding journey, particularly the views of the Isle of Skye.
- Aultbea: See the Arctic convoy entry below.
- Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve: This spectacular place, less than 40 miles from Inverewe, is also managed by NTS. The highlight, for many, is the walk across the suspension bridge above the Falls of Measach. It can sway slightly in windy conditions.
- The Visit Wester Ross website has more information.
Loch Ewe and Its Role in Britain’s Arctic Convoys During World War II:
Loch Ewe played a crucial role in supporting Britain’s vital lifeline to the Soviet Union during World War II.
Between 1941 and 1945, this sheltered loch in Wester Ross served as a crucial staging and assembly point for the Arctic convoys heading north to Murmansk and Archangel.
The Russian Arctic Convoy Museum at Aultbea, only a handful of miles from Inverewe, tells the dramatic story.
The official museum website has more information.