Ardkinglas Garden

Ardkinglas Garden is a lovely little spot which I'd been meaning to visit for some time, and finally went with Mum and Dad on their most recent visit. It is a woodland walk along a one way path following the Gruffalo Trail, to an old mill ruin, and then back around via the Fairy Trail. It passes lovely rhododendrons, camellia, the poetry summerhouse and a great looking slide, which I just had to try out!

The current mill is a two storied mill of late 18th century character which burned down in 1843, but is incredibly romantic right on the river, with the mill race still clear.

At the mill there is the option to cross over into the main estate gardens, which has lots of woodland paths, through swathes of bluebells and down to the loch shore. We didn't walk it all but I returned a few weeks later with Adam and Emma and their dogs and tried out some more of the estate's walks, and found a lovely footpath through shady wooded areas. A few weeks later I returned for the open garden at the main house to see the incredible display of azaleas of all different colours and shades. It was a beautiful, shady walk round the grounds and along the bank of the lake. Spring is the best time to go I think.