Perched on Bournemouth's West Cliff, Argyll Gardens is a compact, Green Flag-winning garden best known for the tropical-style planting that has softened its clifftop slopes since the 1920s. It sits directly alongside Alum Chine, and together the two make for one of the town's more unexpected green corners, a mix of exotic foliage, an old-fashioned bowling green and sea views.
History
The land was originally leased from the Alum Chine Estate in 1898 and became known as the Argyll Pleasure Grounds when it was renamed in 1901. A bowling green followed soon after, laid in 1900 for the cost of £40, and the Argyll Bowling Club, tracing its roots to a Bournemouth Borough Council committee in 1886, has played here ever since, adding a second green and pavilion in 1933. Quite where the "Argyll" name came from isn't settled, though one long-standing theory ties it to Robert Louis Stevenson, who lived nearby on the West Cliff and had connections to Argyll in Scotland.
What to see & do
The gardens' main draw is the tropical and sub-tropical planting that clings to the cliff face, giving the paths an almost exotic feel with sea views out over Poole Bay. The Argyll Bowling Club's greens are still in regular use, and Café Argyll and public toilets are on hand for a break. It's an easy add-on to a stroll through neighbouring Alum Chine, with its shaded paths and children's play area.
Visiting
Argyll Gardens is open access and free to enter, with no gates or set hours. The bowls green and café operate on their own terms. It's reached via West Overcliff Drive, an easy walk from the seafront, or a stop on the seasonal land train from Bournemouth Pier.
Just next door, the Alum Chine Tropical Gardens lead down to Alum Chine beach, making this a natural stop on a longer coastal walk. Explore more of the area in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.
