Big Tree Country >> Places to See >> Aberfeldy & Kenmore >> Cluny House Gardens

Cluny House Gardens

Wander through this wonderful wild woodland garden, overlooking Strathtay Valley and discover rare and exotic plants from around the world.

Information

Couple enjoy view from Cluny Gardens © PKCT

Part of the Perthshire Gardens collection, planted in 1950 by Bobby and Betty Masterton, feature trees and shrubs from America, New Zealand, Japan, China and Tibet merged with native plants to create the unique atmosphere of a Himalayan woodland paradise.

The gardens were developed around a few existing 100 year old trees, including what is now Britain’s widest conifer – a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) – 11 metres in girth and over 130 years old.

Woodland plants regenerate and expand freely beneath the canopy of impressive trees, featuring two massive sequoias amongst rhododendron (Rhododendron dauricum), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and birch (Betula pendula).

The natural topography of the garden creates steep path routes with unavoidable steps in places. The walk itself is short but meanders through the towering exotic specimen trees and provides a special experience for the visitor.

Since the deaths of the Mastertons in the 1980s, the gardens have been managed by their daughter, Wendy and husband, John Mattingley. Thanks to an holistic, natural approach – no chemicals are used, steps and rails are made from their own wood, and weeding is done by hand – the gardens are ablaze with colour throughout the opening season.

iCONic at Cluny House Gardens

The extraordinary gardens at Cluny House were an obvious choice to provide a home for some iCONic conifers.

Plantings at Cluny, include the Alerce(Fitzroya cupressoides) and the Chilean plum yew (Prumnopitys andina). Perhaps the most interesting were three plants of the Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia) planted in December 2008. The planting was recorded for BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Out of Doors’ programme.

The Florida torreya, almost extince in its native habitat, is one of the most highly threatened plants iCONic is working with. It is also extremely rare in cultivation; the Cluny plants are thought to be the first of their kind ever planted in Perthshire.

Directions

3 miles/ 5 km east of Aberfeldy, between Weem and Strathtay - access from minor road of B846.
West of the A9, it is well signposted from the A827 to Aberfeldy.

Facilities

No catering facilities, proximity of Aberfeldy provides toilets & other requirements.
Although the whole site is not suitable for the disabled, a provision has been made as part of the Heritage & Access Project for a decked viewing platform.