Argyll gardens help to boost winter wellbeing

The weather may be getting colder, but a warm welcome still awaits at some of Argyll’s most stunning gardens – and visitors are being urged to get out and explore them during the months ahead.

Ardmaddy Castle in Seil, Crarae on Loch Fyne and Ardkinglas at Cairndow are just some of the gardens across Argyll that will be open throughout the winter.

These green oases offer space to explore, to enjoy the fresh air and to meet family and friends, and they have played a huge part in helping visitors to maintain their health and wellbeing during the last two years of the pandemic.

And now Discover Scottish Gardens, the network of more than 400 gardens, nurseries and estates across the country, has been backed by VisitScotland to boost its website, allowing days out to be planned in advance. Visitors can now search discoverscottishgardens.org for family activities, dog-friendly gardens, accessible spaces and cafés as well as discovering which gardens remain open all year round.

Joanna Macpherson, director of Discover Scottish Gardens, says thousands of people have discovered Scotland’s gardens for the first time during the pandemic: ‘Overnight the visitor profile changed and suddenly we were seeing young people and families with children who had never set foot in a garden before. What they’ve discovered is there’s so much to see and discover in these beautiful spaces, from the bugs, frogs and squirrels that delight children, to a huge range of unusual trees and plants. And many people have been using gardens for exercise and for places to meet up with family and friends.

‘We want people to keep on enjoying the gardens during the winter months and discover the beauty that only unfolds when there’s frost or snow on the ground or highly-scented winter plants are in flower.’