Cluny House Gardens

Set in a stunning woodland garden in Highland Perthshire, Cluny House Gardens are home to exotic plants and trees originating from the Himalayas and North America. The gardens overlook the scenic Strathtay Valley and are home to red squirrels and a variety of different bird species.

The garden was created in the 1950s by Bobby and Betty Masterton – who had a specific interest in exotic Himalayan plants which thrive in the gardens' conditions. One of the most striking of these is the Tibetan cherry tree, a large tree notable for its mahogany peeling bark. Other species that flourish in Cluny House Gardens include lilies – some of which reach a staggering 4m height – and meconopsis, also known as the blue poppy.

In early spring Cluny is renowned for carpets of Dog Tooth Violets and large clumps of Trilliums. One of June's highlights is a splendid Handkerchief Tree with beautiful white bracts trembling in the breeze. Autumn colour from late September through October is spectacular emphasised by the many Japanese maples within the garden.

Cluny is one of the sites included in the Perthshire Big Tree Country Heritage and Access project, celebrating the amazing woodland heritage in the area and coordinated by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust.
Distance from Perth city centre: 30 miles