Lochside landscape, Scotland

Resilience on the slopes of Scotland’s tidal lochs

On the steep shores of a tidal loch in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, this sustainable garden has been designed in response to a dramatic change in level.

From the upper access point off the road, a snaking driveway winds down towards the shore, carefully set out to negotiate the significant gradient. Broad, staggered steps pick up the expansive scale of the landscape, guiding movement through the garden so that the descent feels easy and enjoyable despite the steepness of the slope. Throughout, drainage and water management are integral to the design, while the drive and planting settle naturally into the contours of the site.

The proposed resilient planting reflects the surrounding indigenous vegetation and is chosen to withstand the tough conditions of the lochside setting, often battered by wind and rain.