Explore a Highland Estate with woodlands, sea
lochs, farms, rivers, gardens, mountains - The Black Cuillins and
MacLeod’s Tables, sea eagles, otters, seals, red deer and a multitude
of sea birds.
Any
visit to this enchanted Isle must be deemed incomplete without
savouring the wealth of history offered by Dunvegan Castle and Gardens.
Dunvegan Castle is
the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the
stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years. Built
on a rock, it has survived clan battles, the extremes of feast and
famine and the profound social, political and economic changes through
which the Western Highlands and Islands have passed.
Originally designed to keep people out, romantic and historic Dunvegan Castle was first opened to the public in 1933. Over the
years, we have given a warm Highland welcome to visitors including Sir
Walter Scott, Dr Johnson, Queen Elizabeth II and the Japanese Emperor
Akihito and we now look forward to welcoming you. These magnificent gardens remain open all year round
and will prove of considerable interest to many, following paths
through woodland glades, past shimmering pools and burns fed by a
cascading waterfall.
Stroll through the formal round garden, stand and admire the many Rhododendrons, numerous in their variety.
The Castle Gardens were originally laid out in the 18th century and
considerable replanting and landscaping provides a legacy which current
as well as future generations can enjoy and admire.
The Castle gardens lie inland and are backed by a considerable number of hectares (1 hectare = 2.471 acres) of mature woodland.
As the Isle of Skye is essentially made up of barren moorland and
hill these woods and gardens are like reaching a hidden oasis. Many
visitors are surprised at the sheer variety of species of plant and
tree which not only survive but thrive at Dunvegan.
The secret is a brilliant, inspired and dedicated team of
horticuturalists and garden staff as well as a little bit of help from
nature as Dunvegan Castle is in the "Gulf Stream".
Plantsmen and women from all over the country, indeed the world visit the castle and are inspired by what they find. |
