Silent space

My aim today was to visit Benmore Botanic Garden, which is on a hillside 13 miles north of Dunoon. To do this required two ferries and two buses, then another bus and another ferry to get back to Gourock for the night.

Reader, I did it! I had to run for the bus in Dunoon, but otherwise all went according to plan. I have to say that I consider Benmore to be the most beautiful of the four Royal Edinburgh Botanics (the others being Edinburgh, Dawyck and Logan) although they are all so different in character. The huge redwoods at the garden entrance almost made me weep with happiness. It was a hot day and the Victorian fernery was a cool delight. I walked all the way up to the highest point of the garden, with views right over to Holy Loch.

This part of the garden is designated as a “silent space”. I have to keep reminding myself that such spaces are necessary in between all the rushing around :-)