Benmore Botanic Garden

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Benmore Botanic Garden is a large botanic garden situated between Dunoon and Loch Eck, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It features a large square walled gardens, a waterfall, the remains of a fernery, ponds and a lovely climb up the hillside to a hut where you can look out across the Holy Loch, famous for its role in the second world war. A cafe can be found at the entrance as well as a shop.

Benmore features many magnificent trees some of which are over 150 years old. Including an imposing avenue of Giant Redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum) plus several Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) several exceeing 45m in height.

Benmore contains one of the finest collections of plants from Bhutan including numerous Rhododendrons. Many of the gardens original the plants were grown from seed collected by famous plantsmen such as Ernest Wilson & David Douglas from their travels to Asia & Pacific North America. Some of these plants collectors were sponsored by the gardens original owners the Younger family, who largely made their wealth from brewing.

The high rainfall & mild winters suit many of the more unusual species of Rhododendrons, Magnolias & Northofagus grown.

A river runs through the gardens from Loch Eck to the Holy Loch.

For directions from Dunoon pier: Turn right and follow the coast road past the villages of Kirn and Hunter's Quay. Follow the main road through Sandbank and round the head of the holy loch. Follow the signs for Glasgow, and you will see the entrance on your left after about 5 minutes on the road. During summer, an open top bus travels from the pier to the gardens.

Benmore is a satellite garden under the management of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.