Lip na cloiche Garden and plant nursery
On the west coast of the Isle of Mull, with long-reaching views over Loch Tuath to the Isle of Ulva, Lip na Cloiche garden and nursery is one of the most intimate and spectacular gardens I’ve visited. It’s a plantsperson’s garden, with cleverly laid paths guiding your journey around the steep hillside garden and back to the cottage garden, potager and plant nursery by the house.
We’ll get to the planting. Firstly, we need to talk about the paths. Intricately crafted using old bricks, carefully selected pebbles and rocks, old rope, shells and wood, the paths are as worthy of as much attention as the planting. Built into the steep hillside, you are looking at your feet a lot as you traverse the rocky garden behind the house. The neatly arranged swirls of rope and pebbles, brick interludes and wooden edging, draw your eye forward. Planting such as fleabane, London pride, persicaria, nepeta and geraniums soften any hard edges.
Stopping to admire the planting and the views is easy to do, as this is a quiet garden thanks to there not being a large carpark. Benches, placed where there are spectacular views or places for contemplation, offer resting spots. The views across Loch Tuath and of the surrounding hills and islands that shelter the garden are undisturbed due the elevated coastal spot. Unless, it’s cloudy. When surrounded by mist or cloud the garden holds you inwards, there are no views to distract you from the garden. We experienced both during our visit, and I do love a misty cloudy day for a garden visit.
Plants you’ll encounter
Lip na Cloiche is a plantsperson’s garden. Not just for the range of plants, including some rarities from New Zealand and Chile. But for how all these plants are put together. Each layer of planting is carefully placed; weaving along with the paths, or among the driftwood and found pieces, or the no-longer-required garden forks.
Dripping over the edges of paths and from the cracks in walls. Spilling out of pots and old troughs, Winding their way between eucalyptus and native rowan trees. The planting, such as tall fennel, low-creeping London pride, floaty nepeta and phlox, flouncy hydrangeas, is dense and creates layers of texture that are neatly padded out by mosses.
Alive with the gentle hum of pollinators going about their day, Echium pinanana – tree echium – is a spectacular sight. I first encountered tree echium, which can grow up to 4m tall, on a visit to Achamore Gardens on the Isle of Gigha, where, similar to the west coast of Mull, it enjoys the mild climate.
Gardening on the steep hillside behind the house must be incredibly tricky. You need a steady stance as you go into the borders to remove plants popping up in the wrong places. How this was planted up to begin with, is also a wonder to me. As a gardener, I don’t just walk around admiring the plants, I’m also impressed by the skill of gardening in awkward locations, such as a steep coastal hillside.
plants for sale
I was lucky enough to chat to Lucy, a fellow plantswoman and gardener, who created this special place after first clearing the site of brambles and bracken. Gardening on a steep rocky hillside is no easy task, and requires the kind of steadfastness that many gardeners possess. Lucy propagates plants for sale, and I purchased a few of my favourite potentillas. Her plants are hardy and suited to mild and damp conditions, which makes Lucy’s nursery popular with Mull locals. Residents of nearby islands and peninsulas make a special journey to fill their boots with plants. If I didn’t already have a car full of bikes and camping gear, I would’ve done the same.
Crafts are also available for sale. Bring cash with you or you can pay by bank transfer.
how to find Lip Na cloiche
Ballygown, nr. Ulva Ferry
Isle of Mull, PA73 6LU
We drove from Pennyghael in the south of Mull, turning off the A849 and following the B8035 and B8073 along the quiet and spectacular west coast of the island. Following the signs for the Ulva ferry, and if you’re travelling from the north, keep going until you reach the garden. There are only a couple of parking spaces outside the front gate (park sensibly, to allow other cars in beside you).