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An Cala |
An Cala will be open as usual from April 2024.
The garden at An Cala is now approaching "historical status", having been established in 1930 by Colonel Arthur Murray who had inherited a cottage outside the village of Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil in Argyll. He decided along with his new wife, the actress Faith Celli, that they would indulge their love of gardening by commissioning Thomas Mawson to draw up plans for their 5 acre plot.
It took a year to convert Mawson's brilliant arrangement of the difficult terrain into a garden. Six men worked for a year dynamiting bedrock, importing thousands of tons of topsoil, creating terraces, walls, steps, paths and lawns. When all was in place the Murrays planted up the beds and woodland using the acid loving plants the soil indicated - azaleas, rhododendrons, Japanese ornamental cherry trees and their great love, roses. One border of Rosa Betty Prior is still flourishing today. They were fortunate to have a waterfall and plenty of stream beds to create water features, allowing generous plantings of bog-loving perennials, primulas and blue poppies.
The garden has survived thanks to the care of its creation, its subsequent two owners and the glorious views over the island-scattered Atlantic ocean.
Getting there: From Oban - A816, turn right at Easdale sign and continue for 8 miles
Facilities available:
Wheelchair access in part/with assistance. Guided tours by prior agreement |
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| Contact Information |
| Opening Dates: |
| 1st April - 31st October |
| Opening Times: |
| 10.00 am - 6.00 pm |
| Contact: |
Sheila Downie |
| Tel: |
01852 300237 |
| Email: |
binniedownie@gmail.com |
| Address: |
An Cala, Isle of Seil, Argyll, PA34 4RF |
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