Scottish pebbles are renowned for their smooth and well-rounded appearance. They come in a natural blend of earthy and rustic tones, adding a decorative yet organic element to any garden, patio or driveway.
The high-quality pebbles supplied by Decorative Gardens have the same smooth feel as our larger cobbles, evoking the ambience of a rural walk in the beautiful countryside. Our premium Scottish pebbles will contain perfectly blended shades of beige, orange, black, pink and white.
Ideal uses for Scottish pebbles
Their small surface area, in comparison with the size of the cobbles, makes them ideal for more compact spaces, such as adding the finishing touches to plant pots. They are also fish-friendly and are safe to use for water features and in ponds.
The beautiful stones will glisten when exposed to water, creating a natural marble effect on their surface and revealing ripples of greys and pinks. Each pebble has a unique pattern, so when they are all combined together, they create a truly stunning effect.
Due to their size, there isn't any danger of them being mistakenly ingested by fish and other wildlife. When using Scottosh pebbles in an environment containing fish, it is advisable to wash them before use.
Our Scottish pebbles are ideal for driveways, as they are just the right size. Unlike regular, small pebbles, they don't get stuck in car tyre treads. They are a good size to be comfortable to walk on, making them an ideal choice for garden paths too. They offer a low maintenance way to add that "country cottage" ambience to your property and outdoor spaces.
How are Scottish pebbles sourced?
The question you may be asking is where do the best Scottish pebbles come from? As their name implies, of course, they are sourced in Scotland. They are found in the beautiful Scottish Highlands and islands, on some of Britain's most remote beaches and quarries.
Our Scottish highland pebbles have an exceptionally round, smooth shape. They are believed to be among the roundest natural pebbles in Europe. They are so popular that they can be found on sale all over the continent.
Their smooth shape comes from many years of natural erosion. They are formed after spending many years washing up and down the sea beds and banks along Scotland's shores.
The beaches of Scotland experience some particularly wild weather, including strong winds and currents. This plays its part in eroding and smoothing the natural stones into small, rounded pebbles.
Natural stone enthusiasts are fascinated by the journey taken by the Scottish pebbles before ending up decorating their gardens. In fact, the natural pebbles are a form of granite. It has been in existence for thousands of years, with nature's erosion process gradually smoothing out its rough surface.
Popular choices
This naturally sourced, durable stone is renowned for its deep, rich hues. People choose Scottish pebbles for their warm shades that can add serenity to any outdoor space. Popular choices are deep grey tones, peppered with different shades of purple and red tints.
The most popular choices include Kelkay Scottish Tweed pebbles. These 20 mm to 30 mm quality pebbles are ideal for use in Alpines and rock gardens, borders and beds. They are also fish-friendly, so can be used for ponds and water features.
They are an absolute must for rock gardens and rustic projects. Around the size of a small plum, they are extracted from age-old glacial deposits across Scotland, giving them their round, smooth finish.
You may wonder why people don't simply collect their own pebbles if they are so abundant in the natural environment. However, the Scottish Highland pebbles must be responsibly sourced to avoid damaging the ecosystem.
Responsibly sourced pebbles
Scotland's beaches are protected and it is against the law for people to simply help themselves to the stones and pebbles found there. Only those companies with a licence to remove the Scottish pebbles responsibly are permitted to collect and sell them to other companies, who sell them to the public in the UK and on the continent.
When the Scottish pebbles are collected from their natural habitat in the Scottish Highlands, the licensed companies don't alter them in any way. These beautiful pebbles are sold in bulk in their totally natural form. Sometimes, they are sold in batches of similar colours.
When they are supplied to businesses such as Decorative Gardens, they are in their natural state. By the time customers buy them to decorate their garden, the Scottish pebbles still look just as they did when on the shores of Scotland.
Using these beautiful Scottish pebbles, sourced directly from the highlands, allows householders to enjoy the authenticity of having a piece of wild Scotland in their own garden. Natural stone enthusiasts find there's something extremely appealing about naturally eroded stones.
Their appearance, as such, is totally different from man-made stones, as they have been shaped and weathered naturally over the years. These stunning stones add their own unique feel to any outdoor setting as a result.
Low-maintenance surface
As well as being visually stunning, our Scottish pebbles also provide a natural source of drainage for your outdoor areas. As water can permeate the stones, it will keep the surrounding ground moist. Thanks to this property, the Scottish pebbles are particularly popular around greenery and soil, as they can help keep the roots of your plants moist.
When you sit in your garden and contemplate how beautiful the Scottish pebbles look, you will now understand why. They are sourced directly from beaches and other locations around water in Scotland and are in their natural form, bringing a colourful touch of the wild to your garden.
Their rounded form has been perfected over hundreds of years to create the appearance that people know and love today. The pebbles are low-maintenance, as they do not disperse as much as some smaller gravels. They also provide a flatter surface than the larger cobbles.
When you’re looking to purchase bulk bags of Scottish pebbles, Decorative Gardens sells them in large quantities to help fulfil all of your gardening requirements. Browse our full range to find a whole host of options to suit your every need.
