BEFORE you leave, see Ardencraig Gardens (two miles from Rothesay, 1-4.30pm, 0044 170 050 4644, free) - at its best in spring and summer when its flower beds come into bloom - and
Ascog Hall (three miles south of Rothesay, 10am-5pm, www.ascoghallfernery.co.uk, adults around pounds 4.20.
When Wallace and Katherine Fyfe bought
Ascog Hall twenty years ago, the fernery was so derelict and choked with brambles they did not at first realise what was there.
BEFORE you leave, see Ardencraig Gardens (two miles from Rothesay, 1-4.30pm, 01700 504644, free) - at its best in spring and summer when its flower beds come into bloom - and
Ascog Hall (three miles south of Rothesay, 10am-5pm, www.ascoghallfernery.co.uk, adults pounds 3.
Plants from around the world, including the Mexican Tree Fern and its sub-tropical cousins, also flourish at
Ascog Hall, where a unique garden of ferns is based on an original collection of exotic plants lovingly cherished by the hall's Victorian owner, Alexander Bannatyne Stuart.
Robert, who died on Sunday, lived with his parents Charles and Jacqueline on Mid
Ascog Farm, near Rothesay.
Pumping stations were built at various points along the east coast of the Island of Bute to transport the raw sewage to a high-tech treatment plant at Loch
Ascog.
His parents Charles and Jacqueline, who live on Mid
Ascog Farm a few miles from Rothesay, have been too upset to talk about the tragedy and are being comforted at home by relatives.
Robert McAlister was found by relatives after they became concerned when he didn't return to the
Ascog farm, a few miles from Rothesay on Bute.
Robert was killed at about 6.20pm on Sunday af ter leaving his home at Mid
Ascog farm a few miles from Rothesay to bring cows into a barn for the night.
Chandlers, a new luxury hotel overlooking the sea at
Ascog Bay, is just a few minutes drive from the ferry terminal at Rothesay.
Less imposing but still pretty magical is the
Ascog Hall Fernery, just a short car ride from Mount Stuart.