Crarae Garden

About Crarae Garden

Crarae lies on a hillside above Loch Fyne, about 10 miles south of Inveraray. Larches were first planted on the slopes of the ravine in the early 19th century, but the garden as it is today was started in 1912 by Grace, Lady Campbell. Her nephew, the plant collector Reginald Farrer, sent her trees and shrubs from China, Nepal and Tibet.

Her son, Sir George Campbell, extended the garden with rare conifers and exotic trees, a eucalyptus collection and many rhododendrons grown from seed in the 1920s. The garden is now cared for by the National Trust for Scotland and has the feel of a Himalayan glen set in the Argyll hills.

What to see

• The burn and gorge: the Crarae Burn runs through the centre of the garden, with waterfalls, rocky cliffs and wooden bridges.
• Rhododendrons and azaleas: more than 600 kinds, including many hybrids and the red Noble hybrids from neighbouring growers.
• Trees: a National Collection of southern beech, Wollemi pines and many champion trees, which can be found on the Friends of Crarae trail.
• Seasonal colour: a Meconopsis river in the lower garden, colourful eucalyptus bark in winter and maples and tulip trees in autumn.

Planning your visit

Crarae is on the A83 between Furnace and Minard. The visitor centre, shop and café (last orders 4pm) open daily from mid-March to the start of November. Facilities include accessible parking and toilets, baby changing and bike facilities. Paths through the woodland garden and beside the burn were badly damaged in a storm in October 2023; many have been restored, but take care on steeper routes. Two adults can enter for the price of one with a valid ScotRail ticket and voucher.