A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Friday, 18 September 2009

Gairloch To Ullapool


From Gairloch to the Garden of Inverewe, Scotland's finest garden, situated on a promontory jutting out into Loch Ewe. Despite sharing the same latitude as Canada's Newfoundland and St Petersburg in Russia, Inverewe has a temperate climate - for it's warmed by the mild waters of the Gulf Stream. So lots of diverse plants can grow here. The rhododendron and eucalyptus collections are particularly prized. I spent several hours in this plant paradise, wandering the woodland walks in perfect contentment...



Later that day, after viewing the 'box' gorge of Corrieshalloch from a wobbly suspension bridge...


... I pitched my tent by the loch in Ullapool...

6 comments:

Grizz………… said...

Those are wonderful photos. The gorge looks like some we have in southeastern Ohio, but the vegetation is more northerly. It reminds me of the rugged country of the Southern Appalachian Highlands.

Lovely, lovely post.

The Solitary Walker said...

Glad you liked the post, Grizzled. Am finding it hard to fit in quality blogging time right now - too much car driving and working all hours... But am dreaming too.

'My love she laughs like the flowers' (Dylan's 'Love Minus Zero' - featured in one of am's recent posts)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh how I would like to visit Inverewe - I have read about this garden and it sounds, as you say, like paradise.

The Solitary Walker said...

It's a very unusual garden, Raph. There's a lower, walled section of plant & veg beds, but most of it is wonderful woodland - natural seeming, but actually all planted by Osgood Mackenzie in the late 19th century. Before that the promontory was all but barren. There's a surprise around every corner - some exotic tree, or water lily pond, or wave-lapped headland. You would love it.

am said...

Wow! Astonishing to think of eucalyptus trees that far north. That does sound like a plant paradise. Scotland is becoming dear to me through your writing and photos.

Sarah said...

This brings back some memories; on my first ever visit to the Highlands we stayed in Poolewe. A stone's throw from Inverewe Gardens. It rained for the entire holiday, but my enthusiasm was not dampened!

Inverewe Gardens look even more beautiful than I remember. Lovely photos.