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Mount Stuart Gardens

RHS Partner Garden
MOUNT STUART GARDENS

Free access for RHS Members when open

Isle of Bute
Argyll and Bute
PA20 9LR
Scotland

Get directions

Free RHS Member days
10am–5pm, daily, 1 July–20 October

Telephone
01700 503877

Visit website

About the garden

Owned by The Mount Stuart Trust, Mount Stuart’s 300-acre gardens and grounds are home to a spectacular botanic collection of native and exotic flora, which gives life to several gardens with distinct personalities including a mature Victorian pinetum; a two-acre rock garden designed by Thomas Mawson; a ‘wee’ garden of five acres, planted with tender exotics from Australia and New Zealand; a kitchen garden redesigned by the late Lord Bute with help from Rosemary Verey; and the Calvary Garden, recently restored using original Thomas Mawson plans found in Mount Stuart’s archives.  

Important botanical specimens and champion rhododendrons grow alongside plants endangered in their native habitats, including 16 National Champion Trees. This unique designed landscape hosts a further 80 county champion trees, each finding their home at Mount Stuart. Add in the relics of an 18th century landscape, a tropical greenhouse, acres of seasonal bulb displays of daffodils and bluebells and established rhododendrons, and you have the measure of a long and fascinating visit. 

Facilities

  • Accessible garden
  • Parking
  • Picnic area
  • Refreshments
  • Toilets

Key features

  • Rock garden
  • Glasshouse (open to public)
  • Arboretum
  • Champion trees

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.