Description
The Crarae Woodland Garden is a tranquil Himalayan-style woodland garden set in the scenic hills of Argyll. Located near Inveraray, it offers a peaceful escape filled with exotic plants, waterfalls, and natural beauty. It is an ideal destination for families, walkers, and nature lovers.
Visitors can explore winding paths through rocky gorges, wooden bridges, and lush woodland filled with maple, birch, and evergreen trees. Activities include walking along the Crarae Burn, discovering waterfalls and cliffs, enjoying seasonal plant displays, and experiencing “forest bathing” in a calm environment. The garden also features a café, visitor centre, and historical elements like a Neolithic burial cairn and ancient archaeological remains.
Ticket prices are £10.00 for adults, £7.50 for concessions, £5.00 for children, and £25.00 for families, with additional options like one adult family tickets at £15.00.
The experience offers a peaceful blend of nature, history, and scenic exploration. With its unique landscape and diverse plant collection, it provides a relaxing and refreshing day out. It is a great place to unwind, explore, and enjoy the beauty of a woodland garden.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Tranquil woodland garden with Himalayan plants and tumbling waterfalls. This exotic splash of wilderness is a Himalayan-style glen (although no yetis have been spotted to date), set in the gentle hills of Argyll. The sparkling waters of the Crarae Burn form the centrepiece for a woody paradise of rocky gorges, wooden bridges and thickets of maple, birch and evergreens, blending with sprays of flowers. Just 10 miles south of Inveraray, this is the perfect place to bring the whole family for a walk.
- History: Crarae has an incredibly rich history. Over the last 50 years, Trust archaeologists have uncovered and radiocarbon-dated the earliest evidence of humans at Crarae: a 6,000-year-old midden (rubbish pit) that was full of shells, including cockles, oysters and periwinkles. It lay beneath the forecourt of the Neolithic chambered burial cairn that you can see in the lower garden today. The cairn was built by early farmers to house the skeletons of their ancestors. The remains of three people, two of whom had been cremated, as well as fragments of pottery and a flint arrowhead, were found in the chamber.
- The Garden: Crarae Woodland Garden is a truly magical place. Tucked away on a hillside overlooking Loch Fyne in Argyll, it has a global collection of plants and offers a new delight around every corner. A sparkling burn rushes through the gorge at the centre, crossed by a series of wooden footbridges. Either side is woodland and garden spaces, crisscrossed by a path network that allows you to stroll at your leisure ‘around the world’! This wild ravine was begun to be tamed in the early 19th century when the landowner at the time planted larches on the hillside.
- Family and pet friendly: We welcome everyone to Crarae Garden, from keen and expert gardeners to folk simply wanting a beautiful place to walk their dog. We’ve even had somebody bring their pet parrot! We just ask that pets are kept on a lead at all times in the garden, please. There is an extensive path network across the garden, which is well signposted. Storm damage in recent years has resulted in some changes to the garden layout, but there is a large map in the visitor centre that is regularly updated with any path diversions/trail information.
19.45 miles
