THE GARDENS AT REDCASTLE
These gardens are in the grounds of Redcastle and just a five minute walk from where one of our members lives.
Visit of Bishop Robert Forbes - August 1762
“Reidcastle is an ancient stronghold, the iron-gate still entire. I went upon the top of the house, five stories high, and had a most beautiful prospect of a fine corn country up and down the Frith of Kessock or Bewly, which is the head of Inverness Frith, Reidcastle being close upon it, and thereby having the advantage of salmon and white fish. Here are fine gardens declining to the sun, and abounding with fruits, apricocks, peaches, nectarines, bonum-magnums*, etc., diversified with a den of barren wood, a rivulet running down the bottom, upon which are two corn-milns. The kirk and manse of Reidcastle are near to the seat, which is also beautiful with two birch woods.”
*A variety of plum
The Ordnance Survey Map of 1873 shows the castle and beautifully laid out gardens.
But now they are gone! The castle is in ruins and the gardens have become a wilderness.
Redcastle in 2007
Redcastle September 2016
The remains of the old greenhouses in the wild garden you could still see the heating pipes and remains of the heating system. September 2016
A very atmospheric place and the, now wild, gardens make for an interesting walk when we visited at the beginning of September 2016
Linda Clark
Pictures September 2016 by Ian Kimber
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