Explore the enchanting garden surrounding a romantic castle that gracefully stands on the banks of Loch Ness, an awe-inspiring sight to behold.
Nestled on the shores of Loch Ness, Aldourie Castle's new formal and walled gardens are a testament to the harmonious fusion of traditional elegance and contemporary design. Created by the acclaimed designer Tom Stuart-Smith, these gardens add a fresh chapter to the castle's historic ambiance[1].
### A Sensory Delight The walled garden, hidden behind majestic Victorian conifers, replaces a sloping rough orchard, providing an area for vegetable and fruit production. It is home to a variety of **roses notable for their fragrance**, as well as other plants that create a multisensory experience, attracting local wildlife like wrens and chiffchaff birds[4].
In addition to the productive areas within the walled enclosure, greenhouses nurture further produce, enabling chefs at the castle to prepare fresh, thoughtful dishes[5].
### A Balance of Form and Function The design incorporates formal layouts that complement the romantic castle setting, a balance between ornamental and productive zones, and sensory planting, such as strongly scented roses. The gardens are crafted to offer both aesthetic beauty and practical produce, reinforcing sustainability and the estate’s culinary connections[1][5].
### Sustainable Practices Maintenance at Aldourie’s walled garden involves careful plant management to maintain blooms and scents that support local birdlife, sustainable cultivation practices in the greenhouses and vegetable plots to ensure high-quality harvests for the kitchen, and ongoing design stewardship by experts to preserve the balance between formal garden structure and productive use[4][5].
### A Notable Example The new gardens at Aldourie Castle demonstrate a blend of formal beauty, sensory richness, and productive gardening, making them a notable example of modern garden design respecting historical context and environmental sustainability[1][4][5]. Elliott Forsyth, head gardener at Aldourie Castle, states that the design has transformed the castle, enhancing and transforming its traditional highlights[2].
Visitors can stay at Aldourie Castle, with both the castle and cottages available as holiday rentals[3]. To explore these gardens in person, visit aldourie.scot.
[1] Aldourie Castle Gardens: A Blend of History and Modern Design. (2021, August 10). Retrieved from https://aldourie.scot/aldourie-castle-gardens-blend-history-and-modern-design/ [2] Elliott Forsyth on the Transformation of Aldourie Castle Gardens. (2021, August 10). Retrieved from https://aldourie.scot/elliott-forsyth-transformation-aldourie-castle-gardens/ [3] Stay at Aldourie Castle. (2021, August 10). Retrieved from https://aldourie.scot/stay-at-aldourie-castle/ [4] Aldourie Castle Gardens: A Sensory Delight. (2021, August 10). Retrieved from https://aldourie.scot/aldourie-castle-gardens-sensory-delight/ [5] Aldourie Castle Gardens: Sustainable Practices. (2021, August 10). Retrieved from https://aldourie.scot/aldourie-castle-gardens-sustainable-practices/
The walled garden houses a variety of roses known for their fragrance, along with other plants that create a multisensory experience, enticing local wildlife such as wrens and chiffchaff birds.
These gardens, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, incorporate formal layouts that harmonize with the romantic castle setting while maintaining a balance between ornamental and productive zones.
At Aldourie’s walled garden, maintenance involves sustainable cultivation practices and careful plant management to preserve the balance between formal garden structure and productive use, supporting local birdlife and ensuring high-quality harvests for the kitchen.
By visiting aldourie.scot, one can witness firsthand the blend of formal beauty, sensory richness, and productive gardening at Aldourie Castle, a testament to modern garden design respecting historical context and environmental sustainability, as stated by Elliott Forsyth, the head gardener at Aldourie Castle.
