History And Horticulture
Relax in the natural oasis and explore historical treasures in the art gallery and museum at Inverewe House and Gardens
ON the same latitude as Moscow and Hudson’s Bay, Inverewe in the North West Highlands is not a place you would believe to be renowned for its temperate climate.
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, however, that is just the case, and at the turn of the 19th century Osgood Mackenzie chose here to create a little pocket of paradise in the form of Inverewe Gardens.
For their beauty alone, the gardens have attracted visitors from around the world, but now Inverewe has even more to tempt people in. With an art gallery, a visitor centre and an interactive museum, visitors could spend an entire day exploring all that Inverewe has to offer.
As the original attraction, the gardens are the perfect place to begin a visit to Inverewe. It is a truly mystical landscape of unusual, rare and wonderful plants from across the globe, and the unexpected is hidden around every corner of the 850 hectare (3 square mile) grounds. The garden is full of colourful and exotic plants, from Australian tree ferns to Chinese rhododendrons to South African bulbs. Plantings include the world’s most northerly grove of “fossil trees”, Wollemi pines. Thought to have died out two million years ago, the species was discovered in Australia in the 1990s.
The site is cared for by The National Trust for Scotland and Jackie Brookes, who works for the trust, recognises Inverewe as a real gem in the north.
“It’s astonishing what we grow here!” says Jackie. “The gardens are a real feast for your senses. Wandering around, it is clear what a labour of love it was for Osgood Mackenzie, creating it from a barren wilderness.”
Visitors can admire artworks that reflects the characteristics of the garden and surrounding environment. Jackie says a particular favourite are the willow figure sculptures in the Peace Garden.
“This quiet area is tucked away in the heart of the garden and was created in commemoration of peace after the First World War. These figures represent two gardeners and a war horse leaving for the Western Front in 1914 and a later addition of more willow sculptures of a uniformed soldier, sailor and nurse returning to the garden at the end of the war.”
Inverewe House was the home of Mairi Sawyer, the daughter of Osgood Mackenzie and his right hand while building the gardens. Entering the house is like stepping back in time, but it is so much more than a well preserved relic of times gone by.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the award-winning interactive museum which prides itself on its uncommon approach of creating no barriers between guests at the exhibits. You are encouraged to get up close and handle everything you wish, from the century-old gramophone to Mairi’s impressive collection of magazines.
In keeping with the horticultural theme, there is also the opportunity to “grow your own Inverewe Garden” by helping yourself to some free seeds from their interactive exhibition about the garden’s huge variety of plants.
Yet another string to Inverewe’s bow is The Sawyer Gallery. Set right in the heart of the garden, the gallery is inspired by the garden’s beauty and the landscapes of Wester Ross. It is a contemporary gallery that showcases exhibitions throughout the year in all sorts of mediums such as photography, textiles and sculpture.
Visitors may even be lucky enough to catch the gallery’s artist in residence hard at work, but whatever is going on at The Sawyer Gallery, it is guaranteed to be befitting of the natural beauty it is surrounded by.
Finally, as if that weren’t enough, visitors can finish off their trip with a look in the visitor centre to learn even more about the gardens and visit their boutique shop.
With all that Inverewe has to offer and the wonderful Osgood’s Café serving locally-sourced delights, you can really make a day of it. For anyone visiting the North West Highlands, Inverewe has to be on the bucket list.