Attadale Gardens is a privately owned garden with a woodland, conservatory, sunken garden and Japanese garden on the NW coast of the Highlands of Scotland. Starting in the late 19th century with a significant sculpture collection, a well-established tree and historic rhododendron collection, the site has welcomed visitors for almost 25 years. The gardens have received many awards including Regional Winner for Scotland as an RHS Partner Garden of the Year in 2021 and 2023. The competition invited visitors to vote for their favourite ‘Feel Good’ garden in recognition of health and wellbeing benefits enjoyed. Of equal importance has been the Green Tourism award which recognises efforts to reduce environmental impacts from tourism. Since becoming a popular tourist destination in the northwest, the offering continually evolves with ever improving facilities, including toilets and DIY Mini Midge Bite Café, and encourages visitors to stay in Lochcarron for longer and brings additional business opportunities to the local economy.
Initially started in the late 19th century, the gardens were damaged by major storms before being developed further by Nicky and Ewen Macpherson, and latterly by their daughter Joanna Macpherson with a small, dedicated team of gardeners. The team have created a stunning oasis in Scotland’s rugged wilderness that includes extensive water gardens and ancient paths winding through woodlands and over bridges, with many waterfalls and exotically planted ponds. A major challenge has been regular downfalls with over 80 inches of rain annually, but the water garden goes some way in overcoming this.
The adoption of new technology has meant the introduction of a free GeoTourist audio guide in addition to the online version of the guidebook. Similarly, through a working partnership with the Midge Bite Café, visitors can access refreshments at the site on a self-serve basis year-round. The gardens attract repeat customers by offering annual passes, but the Lochcarron Highland Games provides the greatest influx of visitors because free access to the Gardens is included in the entry price. Visitors range from local residents to North Coast 500 tourists, as well as various tour groups, camera clubs and school visits.
The Gardens have been developed to improve the visitor experience, introducing many new features and plantings, and the gradual removal of invasive species such as rhododendron ponticum. Owing to the convenience of Attadale railway station, and through membership of Good Journey, tourists are encouraged to travel by train, receiving a free guidebook as an incentive. The Garden Gatehouse provides useful tourist information, encouraging visitors to extend their visits and continue exploring the area to enjoy other local attractions. Visitor numbers have risen gradually from just over 3000 in 2000 to 9000 in 2023.
The 1984 and 1989 gales caused serious damage to the Gardens – losing many mature trees – and leading to the planting of the ‘new wood’. Other aspects and features of the Gardens have developed in response to changing weather and ground conditions.
Joanna Macpherson regularly greets visitors at the ticket office – the income of the gardens does not currently support seasonal employment of another member of staff. Indeed, the owner must be extremely creative in how she offers services to visitors, for example, by creating an opportunity for a local business to provide refreshments rather than undertaking to do everything herself. Every year there are opportunities to volunteer in the Gardens, whether for those training in horticulture or just wanting to spend time in the Highlands. Local high school students also work in the Gatehouse at weekends and in the summer holidays.