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Larachmhor Garden Walk

  • Scented roses make for a sensory walk
  • The entrance to Larachmhor Gardens
  • The start of the track to Larachmhor Gardens
  • Desfontainia spinosa (Chilean Holly) in early July
  • Western Hemlock shelter belt
  • One of the many rhododendron species in Larachmhor Gardens
  • A sure sign of pixies and wood nymphs
  • Mountain Ribbonwood in early July
  • Many of the specimen plants are labelled
  • The new layby on the A830 - a convenient place to park

Details

A lovely walk through the gardens of Làrach Mòr on the Arisaig Estate in the former kitchen gardens and nursery of Glen House.  The gardens were developed as a woodland garden by John Augustus Holms in the 1920s to support an extensive collection of rhododendronspecies.    The gardens contain some fine specimen broadleaf trees, as well as conifers.  There is a particularly fine collection of Western hemlock fir (Tsuga heterophylla) acting as a shelter belt. There is a lovely section of semi native woodland at the southern end of the garden, with many of its old trees supporting lichen communities, including useion, graphidion and parmelion.

Interesting shrubs include the tubular red flowers of Desfontainia spinosa, the  large deciduous shrub, Eucryphia glutinosa which is clocked in white flowers in Summer, the bell shaped flowers of Pieris floribunda (Mountain Andromeda) and Enkianthus campanulatus (Ericaea), the latter with brightly coloured foliage in autumn, and the stunning beautiful Chilean lantern tree (Crinodendron hookerianum), as well as sweet scented clambering roses. There is a particularly stunning specimen of New Zealand endemic Hoheria glabrata (Malveae) (mountain ribbonwood) with its abundant 5 petalled white flowers in summer, which cover the tree and carpet the ground.  There is also a fan palm, Trachycarpus fortunei (Windmill Palm) and a large Monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana).

The native woodland ground flora is at its best in Spring, with bluebells, campions and enchanters nightshade to mention but a few.   Damper areas of the woodland are carpeted with hard fern (Blechnum spicant), Hart's-tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) male and butler ferns (Dryopteris spp).  The woodland garden is also filled with bird song in Spring and Summer; listen out for the sonorous calls of a variety of woodland birds.  The soundscape can also be interrupted by the delightful huff and puff of the Harry Potter Express as it journeys between Mallaig and Fort William.

There is also the remains of an incomplete two-storey house on the site of an existing cottage, whose brickwork and masonry shell are now colonised by Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) and ivy (Hedera helix), with its window ledges supporting Luzula sylvatica and communities of mosses, whilst its interior has been invaded by numerous woody species, including ash, beech, hazel and elm. In addition, there are some timber buildings including a bothy, the former home of one of the gardeners.

This a lovely gem of a garden providing a truly sensory experience both for the eyes, nose, ears and touch.

Route Details

1. Park at the lay-by on the south side of A830  approximately 1km east of the village of Arisaig and just a few metres from the entrance to the gardens.  Làrach Mòr Gardens are entered via a wooden gate, as signposted.   The gravel path leads down into the garden through native woodland interspersed with numerous exotic trees and shrubs.  The track transverses the watercourse and then crosses a bridge and continues on by a wooden gardeners hut. 

2. The track eventually peters out into two paths which diverge to explore the southern end of the garden leading to a lovely wooded semi-natural section consisting of mainly mature beech, with some scattered oaks and conifers; the haunt of pixies and nymphs as evidenced by their circular meeting site.  At this stage the path can become rather muddy.    

3. Once at the edge of the wood, retrace your steps. 

4. On returning to the gardeners hut, take the path on the right initially following the beech hedged watercourse, before veering right.  Just before the wooden bothy, turn left, taking a small path through the woodland which skirts the watercourse once more.  The path passes in front of the bothy before joining the main track to admire both the recent and original plantings.

5. Return by the track to the entrance of the garden.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM669865

parking grid ref: 

NM668865
NM659864

Links to useful information

  • Larachmhor Gardens Attraction Page
  • Historic Scotland
  • Glen House

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

woodland track and path

length: 

1.5km (1 mile)

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer 398 - Mallaig

OS Map

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Google Map

Safety

Route details and information are provided in good faith.  All walking is potentially dangerous and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly dressed and equipped, have a map and compass, have checked and planned your route in advance and are able to navigate effectively.  Maps displayed on these walking pages are intended as an overview of the walk and are NOT suitable for navigation.  Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect landowners and residents' privacy.  Always check the weather forecast and let others know if you are walking in the hills.

Walking

  • Walking Overview
  • Map of All Walks
  • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
  • Arisaig, Mallaig and Glenfinnan
  • Fort William and Glen Nevis
  • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
Booking.com
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

Ben Nevis Hotel and Leisure Club
Ben Nevis Hotel and Leisure Club

The Ben Nevis Hotel and Leisure Club is conviently situated just off the A82 a mile north of Fort William town Centre.   The Hotel has a restaurant and bar as well as a fitness centre, sauna, steam room, gym and 20m heated indoor swimming-pool.  A great base for relaxing whilst exploring Fort William, Glen Nevis and Lochaber.

Tides - Mallaig


Arisaig Mallaig Glenfinnan Walking Pages

  • Ardnish and Peanmeanach
  • Bourblach Beach at Morar
  • Camusdarach Beach and Beyond
  • Fassfern
  • Glen Beasdale
  • Glenfinnan Viaduct and Station
  • Glenfinnan Viewpoints
  • Larachmhor Garden Walk
  • Loch a Bhada Dharaich
  • Loch an Nostarie and Mallaig
  • Loch Morar
  • Mallaig Circular
  • Prince Charlie's Cave and Borrodale Beach
  • Strath of Arisaig & Camas Ghaoideil

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Glencoe and Loch Leven

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Walking

Walking

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Fort William

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Wildlife

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Activities

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Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

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Day Trips

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