Cawdor Castle And Gardens

About the garden

Owned by

Dowager Countess Cawdor

Cawdor Castle could claim to be the most romantic castle in the Highlands – the 14th century home of the Thanes of Cawdor. It has several gardens: the earliest dates from the 16th century. Best of all is an 18th century flower garden with large herbaceous borders, a lavender-edged garden with shrub roses, whole borders of lilies and galtonias, spring-flowering trees and shrubs, and an arch of rambling roses. The 19th century wild garden has a good collection of rhododendrons and spring bulbs as well as huge lime trees and fine Victorian conifers. Recent additions to the walled garden include a holly maze, a laburnum walk, several modern designs and coloured planting schemes.

Nearby, the Auchindoune garden, originally planted in the 1920s with plants brought back by Lord Cawdor from his expedition to the Himalayas with Frank Kingdon Ward, is being restored with many of the species they collected in the Tsangpo Gorges: it is open from 10am to 4pm on Tues and Thurs from May to July, and by appointment at other times.

Please note: this garden is partially accessible.