Ardtornish is home to a traditional walled, Kitchen Garden – our head gardener, John Turner, is working hard to bring back to it’s former glory so that we can continue to share high quality, seasonal produce with our visitors and guests.

A “No-Dig” approach has been implemented in the Kitchen Garden, reducing the need for cultivation and allowing us to use our own compost to create healthy soil for growing in the beds and polytunnels. You can read more about a ‘no-dig’ approach to growing here.

Installing a Rock Composter on site now means that our holiday guests and residents of Ardtornish have the option to recycle their food waste into compost, for future use in the Kitchen Garden and grounds. This saves on transportation miles and helps to reduce our carbon footprint.

During the growing season, the Kitchen Garden produces a variety of herbs, vegetables, edible flowers and fruits. Seasonal vegetables boxes have been enjoyed by our holiday guests and we are proud to offer delicious produce with low food miles.

Victorian walled kitchen gardens were a vital part of country estates like Ardtornish. As well as protecting the gardens from wind and frost, the wall allowed gardeners to work behind the scenes, out of sight from the gentry.

Of course the opposite is now true; we are proud to share the achievements of our gardeners and volunteers and strive to restore the Kitchen Garden in full to allow for an enjoyable experience and glimpse into Ardtrornish past for all visitors.

As a result of severe weather damage, the traditional kitchen garden wall itself was demolished in 2023 and a restoration project is underway to return it to it’s former glory, using the original bricks and design.

Visitors will be welcomed back to the garden one the wall is complete. Watch this space!