📌 Minard, Argyll & Bute
★★★★
Billed as a “Himalayan glen”, Crarae is an absolutely gorgeous forest garden on the banks of Loch Fyne. Lady Grace Campbell created the site in 1912, sourcing trees, flowers and shrubs from China, Tibet and Nepal via her nephew and plant collector, Reginald Farrer. Several waymarked trails explore the hilly site, which straddles a burbling burn complete with small waterfalls and gorge sections. The red path covers the highlights (also incorporating the shorter green and yellow trails), with the steep white and blue routes visiting eucalyptus forest and a viewpoint for Loch Fyne. Look out for red squirrels too.
🌍 Location
📌 By the A83 1 mi northeast of Minard
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 986972
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.125327,-5.242161
🚌 Bus stops on A83 outside garden
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily, mid March to late October – probably best late spring / early summer
🎫 £8.50 adult / £6.50 child / free for National Trust for Scotland members
