ARMADALE CASTLE

HISTORY

ARMADALE CASTLE

Armadale Castle was once the seat of the Macdonalds of Sleat, part of the mighty Clan Donald. Now a romantic ruin, the castle sits in a dramatic position overlooking the Sound of Sleat and surrounded by 40 acres of magnificent woodland gardens.

The sheltered aspect and the mild climate created by the Gulf Stream sea current make the Gardens a floral paradise. Magnificent trees, many over 100 years old, tower above carpets of bluebells, orchids and wildflowers in spring and summer. Ponds, herbaceous borders and terrace walks provide a tranquil place to sit or stroll, with walks through dappled woodland linking these sunny havens.

Armadale’s magnificent gardens are testament to the care and attention given by estate staff to restore them to glory, creating the haven of scent and colour you experience today.

Parts of the garden date back to the 1790s, when the original mansion house was built. Substantial remodelling took place in the 1820s when the area in front of the new Castle building was levelled to enhance the fine views across to the mainland. The Gothic bridge, a Historic Environment Scotland designated monument, was built in 1825. The woodland gardens include many remarkable specimen trees, mostly planted in the 1870s. More recently developed areas such as the ponds, herbaceous borders and terrace walks provide a tranquil place to sit or stroll.