Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus worldwide, and in the interest of public safety and the wellbeing of tour participants, we have cancelled the April, 2020 tour.
The tour scheduled for the end of May is looking very doubtful but we will keep updates on the website.
Thanks to all our tour participants for your understanding in this unprecedented emergency.
This tour takes us to some of the oldest gardens in Ireland and you get to stay in some vintage accommodation.
Itinerary: Monday, 25th to Friday 30th May, 2020.
MONDAY, 25TH MAY, 2020:
MONDAY, 25TH MAY, 2020:
Approx. 11.30am Collect participants from Dublin hotels.
Lunch 1.30 Avoca Rathcoole. Continue to CLONOHILL GARDEN, COOLRAIN, PORTLAOISE, CO. LAOIS. Garden tour with owner Enda Thompson-Phelan. Enjoy afternoon teas/scones.
Continue to ROUNDWOOD HOUSE, MOUNTRATH, CO. LAOIS. This house is part of the ‘Hidden Ireland’ group of country houses and oozes history, built in 1730 in the Georgian style. It is now a welcoming family home with dinner prepared by owner Paddy Flynn.
We stay overnight here.
Approx. 11.30am Collect participants from Dublin hotels.
Lunch 1.30 Avoca Rathcoole. Continue to CLONOHILL GARDEN, COOLRAIN, PORTLAOISE, CO. LAOIS. Garden tour with owner Enda Thompson-Phelan. Enjoy afternoon teas/scones.
Continue to ROUNDWOOD HOUSE, MOUNTRATH, CO. LAOIS. This house is part of the ‘Hidden Ireland’ group of country houses and oozes history, built in 1730 in the Georgian style. It is now a welcoming family home with dinner prepared by owner Paddy Flynn.
We stay overnight here.
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TUESDAY, 26TH MAY:
TUESDAY, 26TH MAY:
Depart Roundwood House for HEYWOOD GARDENS, BALLINAKILL, CO. LAOIS (near Abbeyleix). Garden Tour here.
Lunch in Abbeyleix. Travel to FRUITLAWN GARDEN, ABBEYLEIX, CO. LAOIS. Garden Tour here with owner garden designer Arthur Shackleton.
Return to Roundwood House to explore grounds and relax before dinner at Roundwood House. O/N Roundwood House.
Depart Roundwood House for HEYWOOD GARDENS, BALLINAKILL, CO. LAOIS (near Abbeyleix). Garden Tour here.
Lunch in Abbeyleix. Travel to FRUITLAWN GARDEN, ABBEYLEIX, CO. LAOIS. Garden Tour here with owner garden designer Arthur Shackleton.
Return to Roundwood House to explore grounds and relax before dinner at Roundwood House. O/N Roundwood House.
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WEDNESDAY, 27TH MAY:
WEDNESDAY, 27TH MAY:
Depart Roundwood House. Travel to BALLINTUBBERT GARDEN, STRADBALLY, CO. LAOIS. This house and garden has the distinction of being the birth place of Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis, father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis. The actor John Hurt lived here for a while too.
We will have a garden tour with head gardener Jenny, morning tea and scones and time to explore the extensive grounds.
Lunch at Tynan’s Restaurant, The Storeyard, Portlaoise.
Travel to CASTLE DURROW, DURROW, CO. LAOIS. This magnificent property is now run as a hotel. The demesne gardens contain formal terraces, herbaceous borders, a large walled garden with an orchard and a sunken Italianate garden. We will enjoy a garden tour here.
Travel to STEP HOUSE, BORRIS, CO. CARLOW. This beautiful Georgian townhouse will be our accommodation for the next two nights.
Dinner and overnight at Step House Hotel.
Depart Roundwood House. Travel to BALLINTUBBERT GARDEN, STRADBALLY, CO. LAOIS. This house and garden has the distinction of being the birth place of Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis, father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis. The actor John Hurt lived here for a while too.
We will have a garden tour with head gardener Jenny, morning tea and scones and time to explore the extensive grounds.
Lunch at Tynan’s Restaurant, The Storeyard, Portlaoise.
Travel to CASTLE DURROW, DURROW, CO. LAOIS. This magnificent property is now run as a hotel. The demesne gardens contain formal terraces, herbaceous borders, a large walled garden with an orchard and a sunken Italianate garden. We will enjoy a garden tour here.
Travel to STEP HOUSE, BORRIS, CO. CARLOW. This beautiful Georgian townhouse will be our accommodation for the next two nights.
Dinner and overnight at Step House Hotel.
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THURSDAY, 28TH MAY:
THURSDAY, 28TH MAY:
Depart Step House for BORRIS HOUSE AND GARDENS, BORRIS, CO. CARLOW.
This house was the home of the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, Kings of Leinster, and is grand in its scale. A guided tour of the house and chapel will be enjoyed. Time to explore the gardens and grounds at your leisure.
Depart for lunch in GRAIGUENAMANAGH, CO. KILKENNY, a pretty town on the banks of the River Barrow.
Travel to WOODSTOCK GARDEN, INISTIOGE, CO.KILKENNY. Unfortunately, the mansion that once stood among these spectacular gardens was destroyed in the civil war. Now the OPW are restoring the gardens to their former glory.
Garden tour here and afternoon tea in the beautiful restored glass conservatory.
Return to Borris. Overnight in the Step Hotel and dinner.
Depart Step House for BORRIS HOUSE AND GARDENS, BORRIS, CO. CARLOW.
This house was the home of the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, Kings of Leinster, and is grand in its scale. A guided tour of the house and chapel will be enjoyed. Time to explore the gardens and grounds at your leisure.
Depart for lunch in GRAIGUENAMANAGH, CO. KILKENNY, a pretty town on the banks of the River Barrow.
Travel to WOODSTOCK GARDEN, INISTIOGE, CO.KILKENNY. Unfortunately, the mansion that once stood among these spectacular gardens was destroyed in the civil war. Now the OPW are restoring the gardens to their former glory.
Garden tour here and afternoon tea in the beautiful restored glass conservatory.
Return to Borris. Overnight in the Step Hotel and dinner.
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FRIDAY, 29TH MAY:
FRIDAY, 29TH MAY:
Depart Borris, travel to BURTOWN HOUSE AND GARDENS, BALLYTORE, ATHY, CO. KILDARE.
Discover the 18th century charm of this Georgian mansion which has remained in the ownership of one family. Explore the gardens with a guided tour and we will have lunch here in The Green Barn. This restaurant overlooks the walled kitchen garden and opens onto an exterior terrace. There is a farm to plate philosophy so expect to see seasonal produce straight from the garden on the menu.
Depart for Dublin and leave participants back to hotels or other drop-off point.
Depart Borris, travel to BURTOWN HOUSE AND GARDENS, BALLYTORE, ATHY, CO. KILDARE.
Discover the 18th century charm of this Georgian mansion which has remained in the ownership of one family. Explore the gardens with a guided tour and we will have lunch here in The Green Barn. This restaurant overlooks the walled kitchen garden and opens onto an exterior terrace. There is a farm to plate philosophy so expect to see seasonal produce straight from the garden on the menu.
Depart for Dublin and leave participants back to hotels or other drop-off point.
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MAY 2020 TOUR (Gardens in Ireland’s Ancient Midlands ): COST: €982 PER PERSON.
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