There are few wild native plants which looks so good that a garden centre would be pleased to stock them but Oxytropis halleri is definitely one of them. Smaller plants are dotted all round the estuary plateau at this reserve but if you know where to look these large, mature almost shrub like plants come into flower in June. This isn't the only one either - there are quite a few large plants covered in purple blooms.

Stace and other flower books say that the flowers are pale purple or white - I've never seen it any colour other than this deep, rich mouth-watering purple.

We had decided at the last minute to drive to the North Coast from Inverness and were well rewarded for the 250 mile round trip on single track roads for much of the way.