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The  Garden at Ard Daraich a

We had decided that we would go away for Easter again this year. I’d have liked a bit of sun. Ian decided the Highlands of Scotland. As far away as possible from any sun. In April. But I was persuaded on two counts. The first a trip on the Caledonian sleeper. The second was a stay at Ard Adraich which looked great. Which also had a fantastic 8 acre garden.  The garden is open to the public and there is a small nursery where you can buy plants. The added bonus we were staying there. In the garden. Well not in the actual garden. But the garden studio.

The house was originally owned as a holiday home by  the cookery writer and florist Constance Spry although  I suspect she wouldn’t recognise the garden today which has grown in size and beauty.

To be honest. I was in love as soon as I saw the hedge. Yes. In love with a  hedge that sits along the front oft the main house. A stunning camellia hedge. And I mean stunning.



We were staying in the garden studio alongside the main house where the first thing you saw as you came downstaors in the morning were rhodendrons . From the skylight window.

The front of the house along the lane had a long row of skunk cabbage which I had never seen before and which is due to be thinned out. Thankkfully after we leave.


The opposite side of the lane was filled with pheasants eye daffodils. I had planted a 100 for this year. I have to make do with these. Mine are probably flowering in Australia.


And it got better. The path to the garden was outside our studio door. Inviting me to meander the garden at leisure. Which I did. More than once. More than once a day to be fair.


The garden is the continuing work of Norrie and Anna Maclaren .  Norrie’s  parents bought the house in the late 1960s and were keen gardners.

Norries father collected seed from around the world and the trees and the plants in the garden reflect this.

The garden is full of  Rhododendrons azaleas and maples with rare exhibits and plants from around the world. . The rhodendrons are being catalogued and there are over 1000 species in the garden. That’s species not number of plants!

Norrie kindly gave us a tour – an hour long through the various levels. They garden on a hill with practically no soil which in itself is impressive. I have heard of no dig gardening. But no soil.   The garden is fed with seaweed. The moss  taken off the granite rocks lay  at the bottom of the rock.

The garden isn’t without moss especially on this tree which looks like a hand making a rude sign.

But the variety of the plants, the planting and the colours are simply magnificent. Breathtaking. So much so I listened intently to Norrie and tried to remember the names and species. Great big fat fail I’m afraid. There were too many! But I heard maples. Camellias. Sorbus. Plants originating from Japan. South Korea

Plants in bloom


The flowers were glorious in bloom but I loved the ones which were budding and about to burst into colour, form and shape.Of which  there are many. Hundreds if not thousands of flower buds.





I have never really looked at the buds before. Usually just the big blousey flowers. But Norrie was right. The buds are often as interesting if not more exciting than the blooms and  they vary in shape, colour and size.


I think these buds look like little birds!

Alongside one tree were branches  still with last season seed heads. Brilliant to see this together with this seasons flowers.


The garden is much more than just rhodendrons. At the side of the path from the garden studio sits a big fat gunnera looking magnicent as the sun shines through the leaves. There are camellias. Euphorbia. Large trees. Sorbus. Maples. Hosta. Japanese anemones. Wild flowers.


The large labels are ones placed on the rhodendrons when they have been catalogued by the rhodendron society.

Other interesting plants and flowers

Norrie keeps bees and even at this time of the year you can hear them working in the quiet stillness of the garden. As well as bees the garden is a haven for birds and we have been lucky to watch the woodpecker at the feeder each morning along with blue tits great tits coal tits a sole robin and chaffinchs.

I have taken so many pictures of the garden and I only wish I could remember all Norrie told me. The garden is stunning.

The garden studio a great place to stay and with access to so many places nearby. Oh. I can’t forget fresh eggs from the Ard Daraich chickens, and the friendliness and helpful hosts.

The gate to the bees the chickens and more plants! A glorious country view.


Oh. And the amazing space to sit looking out towards the water and The beach.

You may find me there. With a glass of wine. And a view.

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 A bit of an adventure – pt II

So the adventure continued. I went back to sleep for a bit but I didn’t want  to miss anything – certainly not a Scottish breakfast. It was light – outside. Not the breakfast. Keep up. There was scenery to scene. Photo opportunities to opportune. 

What a joy the scenery is to behold. Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Wild. Barren. Lush. Green. Dead. All kinds of everything. ( thanks Dana). Such variety. 

So we managed the Scottish breakfast. Not a cordon bleu delight. – more cordon bleughhhhhh. But hot edible and a hot cuppa tea to go with it. And we had to talk to each other.  Sort of. 


Did I say the corridor was thin. I could have made los of new friends in that corridor – getting past each other was tight. And I mean tight! 


At some points I had to Town sideways for fear of getting stuck. 

But I managed to blag a window that opened and took some pics. Don’t try and move me. I’m here for the duration.  

I made sure there was nothing to hit  my face on as I hung out of the carriage- in parts it was pretty barren. But lovely. 

The higher mountains still had snow caps. 


The stations we passed through were pretty well kept and remote. You wouldn’t want to miss your train and have to wait for the next one! Ian did ask me if I wanted to get off and take some photos – yea right. As younwave goodbye when the train takes off. I stayed out. Thank you very much.

To be fair I really enjoyed the journey. I’m sure next year with the new fancy carriages. The new livery. The new food options. But  In 2018 with a new operator there will be new carriages with ensuite compartments, pod flatbeds and a brasserie-style club bar will be part of the new service. I hope with a 60 million grant from the Scottish govt they will keep prices reasonable. Somehow I doubt it. It will become a luxury tourist trip. 

Ian reckoned he’d booked us two tents. He used to go camping as a kid. He forgot. I booked the accommodation. I know where we are going. Trust me it ain’t camping. I may have brought thermals. I may have brought a hat and a scarf. But unless there is an inside toilet a log burner and a dishwasher then I’m sorry. Thanks but no thanks. Not for love. Not for money. 

Fort William was our  final train  destination  – there To pick up a hire car. When did you last hire a car and the person checking yr details actually came to the car. Showed you the controls. Talked to you. Like never. It always used to happen. And it did again today. We met the guy in the car park – dodgy – and he handed over the keys. Sat in the passenger seat. Showed me thecontrols  signed the  papers. I expected  him to say to ian  get in the back mate. I’m coming along for the ride.  He didn’t. This time. 


The last leg of the journey was the ferry. The Corran ferry. A 5 minute crossing to Ardbough. Never complain about the servern  bridge tolls. £8.20. For a 5  min  crosssing. But better than a 35 mile detour. So we arrived. And the house. The garden. The little studio we had rented was glorious. 

 

The main house. Originally the holiday home of Constance Spry. 

The garden studio. Our home for 4 days. 

I fell in love straight away with the camellia hedge. Which is stunning.  


So we are settled. Food in the fridge. Wine. Crisps. And chocolate. And a map. Oh and an invite to a gallery art exhibition on Friday. Happy holidays. 

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A bit of a holiday adventure. 

There’s no doubt I like a holiday. I always have. Like everything i blame  my mother. But then I blame her for almost everything. Growing up she and dad always were always on the go. The garden, out dancing on a Friday and Sunday night. Or going for a ‘run’ on a weekend. Today going for a run means just that – not that I do not even for a bus. To mum and dad it meant getting in the car and driving somewhere. The beach usually. places within easy reach of Cardiff. Lavernock – or knock knock I called it as a youngster. Southerndown. Porthcawl. Llantwit Major. Fontagary. For an ice cream at Penarth or a walk around the show ground at Barry Island. Watching Nessa work the change cabin in Gavin and Stacey brought back memories. What’s occurring indeed. No she wasn’t there in the 60s. But there were people like her! 

I digress. But that’s not unusual. So they gave me the bug. Not to sit down for too long. The garden. Little trips out. Bigger trips. So. Its Easter and we decided on a staycation this year. Scotland won – better go and use my EU passport whilst I still can. Ian’s a Scott. Glasgow born and bred and still yearns for Scotland, it’s friendliness and its scenery. He recalls tales of camping in the highlands and has suggested that we could do that. Yea. Right. Camping – no comments please – is not for me. Unless its luxurious.  Plus. Midges hate me. With a vengeance. 

Instead we book the overight sleeper to Fort William from Euston. It’s by no means cheap but with a bit of thought and a two together railcard you can get 34% off your fare. Even the first class fare. Helps when the train guard says nice picture. Which it isn’t. 

From Fort William we will head to Loch Linhie to do a bit of self catering at a garden studio in what was once Constance Sprys holiday home.- where the garden ( oh look a garden thrown in too) is open to the public. I’m hoping  rhododendrons. 

 Ian’s  done the train before but not for a long time. When we board he says nothing has changed. ( I don’t tell him he has) The carriages have been in service for 35 years and are due to be replaced in 2018. So we have to do and make do with what we have now. I make a note to do this again  when the fancy pants new carriages are in place. Because they do sound fancy with a 100 million  budget. For now I’m glad to experience this one. At these prices because as sure as eggs are eggs there’s only one way they will go. 

To be fair whilst the carriages  look a little tired – as do we – they aren’t bad at all. Clean. Tidy. Good white sheets. A sleep over kit from Arran Aromatics. A sink. The important USB charger point. Interconnecting door between our two single  cabins which actually does make a difference – you don’t feel quite so claustrophobic with the door open. But I did think I was getting one night snore free. 


It’s a bit tight meeting anyone in the corridor especially when someone tries to pass and says breath in. I bl…y well am thank you very much! 

I’ve started to write this at 4am as we have pulled into Edinburgh Waverley where we have stopped for a while before the highland journey. To be fair the stop didn’t wake  me and I’m surprised that I have slept for over 5 hours. The journey  wasn’t as bumpy as I had expected and to be fair whilst the berth  was a little  warm  it’s been really comfortable. I’m not sure I’d want to share a double cabin in bunk beds particularly if I was in the top bunk – I’d be paranoid I’d fall out. But first I’d have to climb up there. And it would need to be reinforced. 

The next leg of the journey will be interesting. We did the west highland line over 20 years ago and it was stunning and then we went from Glasgow to Mallaig. 

So I’m going to be found in the corridor with my camera as we pass through Bridge of Orchy Spean Bridge Rannoch and there will be pictures. As usual.  But first I think I have another hour or so before dawn so I’m going to get a bit more beauty sleep.