Inveraray, Scotland
Inveraray, Scotland
Welcome to Crarae
A message from the Chairman of the Trust
I do hope you enjoy visiting this unique and outstandingly beautiful woodland garden. It is reckoned by many experts to be the nearest in Britain to being a typically Himalayan gorge blending the creative landscaping of trees and shrubs with a natural highland setting.
The Trustees' aim is to maintain and modestly develop this
superb memorial to the skill, vision and care of three generations of Campbells.
The Trustees are only too aware that they are caring for a national asset; they
have plenty of ideas for the enhancement of the garden but sadly everything
depends on bridging the gap between the ever-increasing expenditure and the
income which comes mainly from visitors. They are working towards building up
an endowment which, invested, would provide a boost to the income. Anything
you could do to help would be very much appreciated. One simple step you could
follow is to consider joining the Friends of Crarae, a body which gives invaluable
financial and practical support to the garden. There is a short article about
the Friends below.
Finally, we hope that all those visiting the garden will find
a route that will enable them to enjoy both the wide vistas of colours and the
individual plants.
The Plant Hunters
Crarae, and indeed all of our gardens, would not be what
they are today had it not been for the exploits over the years of a group of
remarkable, intrepid plant hunters, who risked life, limb and health in visiting
remote, dangerous and often jungle infested areas of China, Tibet, Burma, Bhutan,
North and South America, Tasmania and many other parts of the world in order
to find and bring back seeds and plants which we now all enjoy. All this was
achieved without the civilised comforts and speed of modern travel. If you wish
to know more about the plant hunters then do take advantage of the illustrated
interpretative display in the Visitor Centre.
Rhododendron Sinogrande
The Friends of Crarae
Who are the Friends?
They
are those who love gardens and who wish to be associated with the endeavours
of the Trustees to preserve Crarae Garden in all its wild beauty, to preserve
it for the enjoyment of visitors from near and far, and to preserve it for future
generations.
Friends pay a small annual subscription, often augmented by
an annual donation, and this gives valuable financial support.
Some Friends
who live nearby give practical support, such as catering for special occasions,
welcoming visitors and conducting parties around the garden.
An annual newsletter
keeps Friends in touch and tells them of any new developments. Friends also
have free access to the garden at all times.
If you would like to join the
Friends of Crarae, please ask for an Application Form at the Visitor Centre,
or write to The Secretary, The Friends of Crarae, Minard, Inveraray, Argyll,
PA32 SYA.
The Creation of Crarae
by Sir Ilay M. Campbell, BT
The garden as we know it today owes its beginnings to my grandmother. Born Grace Reynell-Pack of Avisford in Sussex, she married in 1887, Archibald Campbell who in 1874 succeeded his cousin as 5th Baronet. He did not however come into the family estates until 1904, on the death of the 4th Baronet's widow, Margaret.
The Cumlodden estate, on which Crarae stands, was only a secondary home of the family, who lived at Garscube near Glasgow, and only visited it annually for fairly short periods. Lady Campbell's sister was married to James Farrer of Ingleborough in Yorkshire and Reginald (1880 - 1920), the traveller, plant-hunter and writer was their son. We believe that he was a primary influence in enthusing his aunt to develop the woodland garden at Crarae, others were my grandfather's cousins the Campbells of Stonefield and Sir John Stirling Maxwell of Pollok. In the years before the First World War my grandmother planted the shrub borders to the east of Crarae Lodge, and the group of Rhododendrons just across the burn to the west. -
In 1926 my grandfather made the estate over to his son Captain
George Campbell, my father, who succeeded him as 6th Baronet in 1942, and the
development of the garden became his consuming interest until his death. Long
before this, Sir George had a deep interest in trees to which the Abies grandis, planted by him in 1908
when he was fourteen, Disanthus cercidifolius and Cotoneaster salicifolius and
the Cunninghamia lanceolata in autumn brought from Dawyck, Peebleshire in 1917, bear witness. From 1926
Sir George began to plant the banks of the Crarae burn on either side of the
paths which follow its course. Gradually he cut the natural Oak, Birch, Rowan,
Alder and Hazel, replacing it with exotics, planting conifers round the periphery
to provide shelter, especially from the prevailing south-westerly winds.
Flame-coloured Azalea
The mild moist climate of the western seaboard and its acid soil, overlying rock and boulder clay, provide conditions ideally suited to the cultivation of Rhododendrons, but Sir George was careful not to allow this genus to swamp the many others in which he was really more interested.
At Crarae can be found Eucalyptus, Embothrium, Clethra, Eucryphia,
Magnolia, Malus, Sorbus, Acer, Betula and Pittosporum, among numerous unusual
trees and shrubs, both broadleaved and coniferous.
My father had already planted Nothofagus, the southern hemisphere Beech from
Chile and New Zealand, in the early 1930s, but increased the collection following
his visit to the latter country in 1952. We now grow ten species of this delightful
genus, and Crarae has been designated a 'National Collection' by the National
Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.
Gradually Sir George increased his plantings by taking in
land on either side of the glen, so that today the garden covers some forty
acres. Whenever possible he chose to plant groups of one species, thinning out
as they grew. This has resulted in spectacular drifts of colour both in spring
when the
azaleas are in flower, and in autumn when the decorative hardwoods turn colour.
Sir George died in 1968, and a total reassessment had to be made. For ten years the gardenhad been open to the public under Scotland's Gardens Scheme, but my wife and I realised that, even by retaining the proceeds, we would neverbe able to bridge the gap between income and expenditure. We therefore decided to set up a charitable trust, transferring to it most of the garden. This was done in 1978, since when all income has been devoted to its maintenance and improvement.
In 1987 the Visitor Centre was opened, funded by donations,
and has proved useful for many purposes, not least as a means of welcoming visitors,
and providing them with information, sustenance and shelter, thus increasing
their enjoyment of the garden.
Rhododendron 'Dawn's Delight'
Wildlife of Crarae Garden
Crarae Burn holds its own community of animals, ranging from Caddis Fly larvae to Brown Trout and Eels. Other animals prey on the invertebrates in the burn, for instance Dippers are frequently seen feeding along the length of the burn.
The ornamental bushes and smaller trees provide suitable feeding and nesting areas for Chaf finches, Bullfinches, Robins, Thrushes and Blackbirds. Less common are Jays, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Sparrow-Hawks.
In the upper glen the vegetation is predominantly coniferous woodland so Siskins, Redpols and occasional Crossbills are seen in the tree tops while Coal Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits are frequently seen feeding lower down the trees and around the edge of the forest. If you are lucky you may see a Buzzard or a Kestrel.
There is plenty of wildlife to be seen in the garden but you need to take your time, move quietly and not talk too much! Then you might well be surprised and even see one of the very common Roe Deer or a Red Squirrel.
The Neolithic Chambered Cairn
In the garden of Crarae are the ruined burial chamber and part of the forecourt of a cairn built about 4500 years ago, at a time when metal was neither known nor used.
The burial chamber is thirteen feet six inches (4 metres) long and five feet six inches (1~7 metres) in greatest width. It is built rather like a house of cards, of large unhewn slabs of stone set on edge, and prevented by cross slabs from falling inwards. A narrow entrance between tall portal stones gives on to a forecourt. The forecourt was edged by standing stones, most of which have disappeared but it must have been nearly forty feet (12·2 metres) across.
A longer and more detailed description of the cairn is available to be read in the Visitor Centre.
View over Loch Fyne to Cowal
Routes around the Garden
There are four main routes and everyone should be able to find a route that suits their interest, their fitness and the time available. It is up to you to choose which one you follow; indeed, you are not required to follow any one route in its entirety but may change on to a different route when you can or use some of the short cuts.
BLUE (approximately 1½ hours)
This route follows the perimeter of the garden. It negotiates steps and steep paths in order to reach the very highest areas of the garden which give wonderful views over Loch Fyne to the Cowal Hills, and of course over the garden itself. It also crosses the Crarae Burn so that you obtain a fine impression of the Gorse and the exotic planting with its sensational colours in May and June, and again in the autumn.
YELLOW (approximately ¾ hour)
This route negotiates steps and some steep paths in following the Crarae Burn closely up and own its Gorge. You may well see some of the best colours on this route but you will miss out on the main plantings of Eucalyptus and Nothofagus.
BLACK (approximately 1 hour)
This route avoids nearly all the steps and steep paths by following the Forest Road up the garden and then, having crossed the Crarae Burn at the top of the garden, returning by Lady Campbell's Walk. This walk gives fine vistas both going
up and returning without being too physically demanding.
DOTTED (approximately ½ hour)
This route is for those wishing for an easy walk. It avoids nearly all the slopes but opens up the peaceful lower areas of the garden, and it still enables you to gain some impression of the bottom end of the Crarae Burn Gorge.
Disanthus cercidifolius & Cotoneaster salicifolius in Autumn
Monthly Highlights
B=Blue route Y=Yellow route
February - Rhododendron strigillosum BY, Hamamelis mollis B.
March - Pieris taiwanensis BY, early Rhododendrons - lutescens, barbatum, etc. BY.
April - Rhododendrons of many varieties BY, Rhododendron sinogrande B, Lysichiton americanum Y, Berberis darwinii Y, Camellias of many varieties Y, Magnolia salicifolia Y, Magnolia cam pbellii Y
May - Rhododendrons and Azaleas in profusion BY, Magnolia wilsonji B, Cornus kousa B, Meconopsis X sheldonji BY, Embothrium (Chilean Fire Bush) BY, Malus hupehensis Y.
June - Rhododendrons and Azaleas still in profusion, Crinodendron hookerianum B, Bluebells B, Euphorbia griffithii Y, Enkianthus cam panulatus B, Davidia involucrata Y, Styrax japonica Y.
July - Roses BY, Buddleja davidii BY, some late Rhododendrons, Eucryphia lucida Y, Hydrangea aspera B.
August - Rhododendron 'Polar Bear' B, Sorbaria arborea B, Eucryphia glutinosa BY.
September/October - Outstanding autumn colours BY - Sorbus, Malus, Acers, Liliodendron, Disanthus cercidifolius, Celastrus scandens, Betula albo-sinensis, Fothergilla major, Prunus X hillieri, Quercus rubra and many other trees and shrubs.
Printed by kind permission Crarae Gardens
Page 2: A History of the Gilchrists
Page 3: In Campbeltown Once More.
Page 4: The Lowland Church of Campbeltown from its Foundation in 1654 till the Disruption. - Part Two
Page 5: Heather McFarlane's Page - Some Thoughts by e-mail & snailmail
Page 6: Books Received, in Brief
Page 7: Crarae Garden (Could be slow loading)
Page 8: By Hill and Shore - Part One