Dunrobin Castle Garden

About the garden

In 1850, the second Duke of Sutherland commissioned Sir Charles Barry to extend his Highland Castle into a French-style chateau. Barry then turned his attention to the garden, designing a smaller version of the vast Italianate garden he had previously completed for the Duke’s Staffordshire Estate at Trentham. Although much of this has since reverted to woodland, the remaining East Walled Garden offers a pictoresque layout that can be viewed from the castle and terrace, and a fitting foreground to the panoramic views across the Moray Firth to the distant Cairngorm Mountains.

Look out for large clumps of Gunnera, hardy fuchsias (including F. ‘Dunrobin Bedder’ raised here in 1890) and old climbing roses. In spring, tides of bluebells follow snowdrops through the garden and policies. In early summer, grass slopes host wildflowers that attract birds and bees. After midsummer, tender exotics compete for attention among hardy stalwarts. From late summer, bold dahlias and agapanthus give way to mellow autumn colours.