The Sunken Gardens were originally laid out in an ornate formal pattern bordered by gravel paths. Between the paths lawns were cut out to make 58 small flowerbeds of different shapes and sizes reflecting elements of the family crest.
Today the beds have been joined into several larger ones planted with a mixture of shrubs and semi hardy herbaceous plants. They are surrounded by hybrid Rhododendrons with an enormous Cynthia, which bursts into bloom in April/ May, making a huge pink mass.
The shrubbery at the far end has two magnificent British Champion trees: Pieris formosa var forrrestii and Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdowni’ (weeping elm).
Although visible from the gardens at Lochinch, the Sunken Gardens are currently not open to the public due to restoration works taking place there.
Champion Tree Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdowni’ in the Sunken Garden at Lochinch
