Beautiful Plants For Your Interior
Benmore Botanic Garden
Address: Benmore Botanic Garden, 4 Uig, Benmore, Dunoon, Argyll PA23 8QU
Opening Hours: Current opening times are 10:00 am – 5 pm. From the 1st March – 31st October. The Fernery opens at 11 am and closes one hour before the Garden.
Entry Fees: Ticket Prices
Bank Holidays: Seasonal Opening, but advise to call for further information.
Telephone: +44 (0) 1369 706 261
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes – manual wheelchairs are available to use free of charge, pre-booking is recommended. There is an access guide for Benmore Botanical Garden which will assist those with specific requirements. (Recommended to Read Before a Visit)
Suitable For Children: Yes (all ages).
Cafes & Restaurants: Yes – Redwood Coffee serves coffee, refreshments, snacks and delicious home baking.
Toilets and Facilities – Yes, including disabled toilets. which are outside the visitor’s centre and beside the Benmore Courtyard.
Pets: Animals of any kind are not permitted in the Botanic Garden, except assistance dogs, with their owners.
Car Parking: Yes – There is free parking at the Benmore Botanic Garden.
Facebook: Benmore Botanic Garden
Email: benmore@rbge.org.uk
Website: Benmore Botanic Garden
Special Note: In severe weather conditions the Garden closes for safety reasons but the
visitor centre and café remain open as usual. Please call to check that the Garden is open.
Botanical Gardens Near Me – Glasgow
Benmore Botanic Garden
The Benmore Botanic Garden, located in Argyll, Scotland, is a renowned botanical garden that spans over 120 acres of diverse landscapes coupled with extraordinary plant collections.
Established in 1863 the garden is home to a wide variety of plant species from around the world, including rhododendrons, conifers, and ferns. Visitors can explore the garden’s extensive network of paths and trails, which lead through lush woodlands, along picturesque rivers, and past striking rock formations.
One of the garden’s most notable features is the 150-year-old Redwood Avenue, a majestic tree-lined walkway, one of the finest entrances to any botanic garden. The Redwood Avenue showcases towering sequoias and other impressive tree specimens. Additionally, Benmore Botanic Garden is part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, contributing to important conservation and research efforts.
With its rich botanical diversity and stunning natural beauty, Benmore Botanic Garden offers a captivating experience for nature enthusiasts and horticulturalists alike. In this post, we will delve deeper into the history of the garden, its notable collections, and the ongoing conservation initiatives that make it a must-visit destination for plant lovers.
The History of Benmore Botanic Garden
Benmore Botanic Garden was founded in 1863. The garden’s current design was set up between 1870 and 1883, and it underwent further expansion and development from 1889 to 1928.
In 1862, a rich American named James Piers Patrick purchased the Benmore Estate and in 1863, he planted the Redwood Avenue of Giant Sequoias. During the late 1800s, a kitchen garden was constructed to the northeast of Benmore House, and it was later transformed into a formal garden.
In the 1870s, the estate’s owner, James Duncan, constructed a fernery in a ravine above a stream and grotto. The fernery underwent restoration in 2008 and was reopened the next year.
The Gardens And Plantings
Visitors to the Benmore Botanic Garden will find its location on the mountainside truly stunning. The Garden is renowned for its collection of plants from various regions, including the Himalayas, China, Japan, and North and South America.
Visitors can explore seven miles of trails that lead to attractions such as a restored Victorian Fernery and a breathtaking viewpoint at (128mtrs) 420 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and Holy Loch.
Additionally, there are traditional Bhutanese and Chilean pavilions, along with the magnificent Golden Gates. While wandering through the garden, keep an eye out for red squirrels and other wildlife.