Gardens of the Emerald Isle

The tour starts at 3.45pm on Tuesday 17 June, at The Chancery Hotel, Dublin.

The tour ends after breakfast on Wednesday 2 July, at The Chancery Hotel, Dublin.

Meeting in the lobby in the mid-afternoon, we take an orientation stroll of Dublin, followed by a light dinner in our hotel. Overnight Dublin (D)

We depart Dublin by coach this morning, travelling north along the coast to Belfast – the capital city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan. En route, we visit Newgrange in the Brú na Bóinne, Ireland’s richest archaeological landscape with over 150 Neolithic monuments of which Newgrange is the largest and most ornately spectacular. It is also the oldest astronomically designed structure in the world (older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids) and at the winter solstice, a shaft of sunlight arrows into the centre of the tomb – it is a truly, magical place. After exploring the site, we continue to Belfast and enjoy a brief orientation walk on arrival. This evening we have an introductory lecture in our hotel, followed by a welcome dinner. Overnight Belfast (B, D)

Following a lecture in the hotel this morning, we make our
way to the new state-of-the-art Titanic Belfast museum.
In the early 1900’s, Belfast was home to one of the world’s greatest shipbuilders – Harland & Wolff – who began construction on Titanic in 1907. Today we find Titanic Belfast beside the original Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and the Hamilton Graving Dock – the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched – and the museum tells the story of her conception through to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history. We spend the morning here exploring the nine interactive galleries covering over 100 years of maritime and social history, with time to walk the decks of the Titanic’s tender ship and now last remaining White Star Line vessel in the world, the SS Nomadic. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to enjoy the city of Belfast and its historic waterfront. Overnight Belfast (B)

We begin today with a visit to Mount Stewart, romantically situated on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down. There’s a feeling of enchantment about these beautiful gardens, considered one of Ireland’s finest. They’re the creation, in the 1920s, of Edith, the Marchioness of Londonderry. From the formal Italian Garden surrounded by animal-like sculptural representations of her family and friends, to the Dodo Terrace, to Mairi’s Garden, named for her youngest daughter, with its beautiful ‘Mairi, Mairi, quite contrary’ fountain, we find a sense of wonder and whimsy at every turn. On arrival, Head Gardener Mike Buffin takes us on a tour through the formal gardens, followed by free time to wander through the 19th-century neo-classical house and stroll the internationally renowned rhododendron collection, already erupting in a blaze of colour with flowers in hues of yellow, red, white, orange, and purple. We then continue back around Strangford Lough for lunch at Daft Eddy’s, a fabulous eatery on Sketrick Island with an incredible view over the lough. Returning to the hotel in the late afternoon, the evening
is at leisure. Overnight Belfast (B, L)

Journeying north today to Glenarm on the Causeway Coastal Route, we find one of Ireland’s most beautiful, historic and award-winning walled gardens at Glenarm Castle – the ancestral home of the Earls of Antrim, which has remained in the family for over 600 years. The Walled Garden as you see it today was built in the 1820s, and since opening to the public in 2005, its restoration has continued under the stewardship of Nigel Marshall, formerly Head Gardener at Mount Stewart. Traditionally the source of vegetables, fruit and flowers for the castle, it is now unashamedly a thing of great beauty with herbaceous borders, specimen trees, topiary, original glasshouses, sculpture and spectacular wildflowers, all with
a backdrop of surrounding hills and the sea. Following our visit, we continue north to the Giant’s Causeway, pausing to enjoy
a lunch of Irish classics at the Distillers Arms in Bushmills. Flanked by the wild North Atlantic Ocean, the Giant’s Causeway is one of the geological wonders of the world. Legend has it that the mythological Irish hero, Finn McCool built the causeway to get across the Irish Sea to face his rival, the Scottish giant Benandonner. Following their fearsome meeting, Benandonner ripped up the causeway as he fled back to Scotland, leaving what we see here today. Finn in turn scooped up a handful of Ireland to fling at his retreating rival, but it missed and landed in the Irish Sea becoming the Isle of Man, while the void left became Lough Neagh, Ireland’s largest lake. Or so the story goes! After following in these legendary footsteps around the now UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, we return to Belfast in the early evening. Overnight Belfast (B, L)

Departing Belfast this morning, we make our way to Galway in the rugged west of Ireland. Our first stop is Oldbridge House, built in the 18th century on the site of the Battle of the Boyne. In 1690, the Protestant William of Orange (William III of England) defeated his father-in-law, the deposed Catholic James II of England, in a battle that was to change the face of Europe. The house, now home to The Battle of the Boyne visitor centre, has been restored as has its original walled garden. Early days, but fascinating to see the thought process going into its restoration. Our next stop is Belvedere House, built in 1740 for Robert Rochfort, the first Earl of Belvedere. Known as ‘the jealous earl’, it was here that he imprisoned his wife for an alleged affair with his brother Arthur. She was only released on Robert’s death in 1774. In the meantime, he also fell out with another brother George who lived ‘next door’. To stop prying eyes, Robert built what is Ireland’s largest folly, the Jealous Wall. Our final leg takes us to Glenlo Abbey, rising splendidly from the still waters of Lough Corrib on a stunning 138-acre resort just outside Galway City. Our base for the next two nights, there is time to freshen up on arrival before we enjoy dinner in the hotel’s River Room. Overnight Galway (B, D)

Kylemore Abbey is possibly the most famous garden in Ireland, and the journey to get there through the wilds of Connemara; its multi-faceted history; its sheer beauty; and the quality of its visitor experience make it an undoubted highlight of any trip to Ireland, garden or otherwise. Originally built in 1868, the castle was acquired in 1920 by Benedictine nuns who had fled Belgium during WWI. Until recently a girls’ school, it is still owned and run by the nuns. The crowning gem, of many gems, is its walled garden created in 1868. It once boasted 21 heated glasshouses and a workforce of 40 gardeners. On arrival, head gardener Anja Gohlke (schedule permitting) will walk us around the garden comprised of roughly six acres and divided in two by a beautiful mountain stream. The eastern half includes the formal flower garden, with the western part featuring the vegetable garden, herbaceous border, fruit trees, a rockery and a herb garden. As well as the walled garden there is much else to explore including the house and the beautiful little Gothic church. Oh, and some great shopping! Returning to our hotel, the late afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Galway (B)

Today we head to the southwestern corner of the Emerald Isle,
a gardener’s paradise thanks to its temperate climate. Plants that simply wouldn’t survive outdoors in other parts of Ireland thrive here, leading to some refreshingly original combinations. We arrive in the beautiful city of Cork at midday and, after a break for lunch, embark on a tour of its historic landmarks – clustered together within easy walking distance of one another. There’ll even be a chance to sample a pint of Beamish – Cork’s answer to Dublin’s more famous Guinness – in possibly Ireland’s oldest licensed premises. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure before we reconvene this evening for dinner in our hotel. Overnight Cork (B, D)

Following a lecture in our hotel, we make our way just outside Cork to visit Blarney Castle. Dating back in part to the 1400s, the Castle is today a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. At the top of the castle, built into the external wall, sits the famous Blarney Stone. Many are the various and increasingly outrageous legends surrounding its origins. If you’re game, you can hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss it, and so gain the gift of the gab. Hmm... Anyone? If not, the extensive surrounding gardens await and are a joy to explore. Constantly changing, they include herbaceous borders, woodland walks, a Carnivorous Courtyard and even a Poison Garden! We return to the hotel in the early afternoon, the remainder of the day at leisure to explore more of Cork’s historic centre. Overnight Cork (B)

We begin today with a visit to Bantry House and Garden,
a stately home which commands magnificent views over Bantry Bay. Sitting on seven terraces – the extraordinary house (which we will also be visiting) sits on the third – the gardens at Bantry House were laid out in the early 1800s by Richard White, the 2nd Earl of Bantry, inspired by what he had seen in Italy on his Grand Tour. At the front, lawns sweep down to the bay. At the rear, the monumental One Hundred Steps mount up through the remaining terraces from the most exquisite Italian parterre garden. The White family still live in the house and so the garden, miraculously, remains as laid out some 200 years ago. Following our visit, we take a private ferry across Bantry Bay to Ilnacullin. Also known as Garnish, Ilnacullin is an island garden of diminutive size and rare beauty. In 1910, John Bryce bought the island and together with the great architect and garden designer, Harold Peto (of Iford Manor and Buscot Park fame for those who’ve been with Mike on tours of England’s Southern Gardens), set about creating a corner of paradise in this most unlikely of places. Peto’s typical Italianate Loggia Garden at its heart is astounding in both its beauty and its situation. After exploring the wealth of unique horticultural gems to be found, we return to our hotel. Overnight Cork (B)

After a lecture in our hotel this morning, we depart for Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens, situated on a 100-acre organic farm in County Cork. The School was founded in 1983 by Darina Allen and includes beautifully restored gardens, which date in part back to the 1850s. Today, it is one of the most prestigious cookery schools in the world; its alumni including many internationally renowned chefs, restauranteurs and food writers. And with such accolades, we of course enjoy lunch at nearby Ballymaloe House, showcasing local produce. Pimms & canapés greet us on arrival, before a three-course menu of modern Irish cuisine. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight Cork (B, L)

Departing Cork today, our journey takes us past rolling hills, blanket bogs and peaceful waterways as we return to Dublin. Our first stop enroute brings us to Lismore Castle for a tour through its historic gardens with head gardener Colm O’Driscoll (schedule permitting). Lismore Castle is the home of Will, Lord Burlington, the son and heir of the Duke of Devonshire, and his wife Laura. Successive generations of the family have put their own stamp on the magnificent gardens, which are said to be the oldest continuously cultivated gardens in Ireland. The gardens today are a wonderful mix of traditional and modern (two graffitied sections of the Berlin Wall can be found the woodland) and there are exciting plans to restore the 19th-century Paxton-designed glasshouses and other forgotten gems. In the meantime, everything at Lismore is done with the utmost attention to detail and taste. Our next stop is Bramley Abbeyleix, a new Irish restaurant in County Laois, where we enjoy lunch before visiting nearby Heywood Gardens. Landscaped in the typical 18th-century Capability Brown style, Heywood was given a contemporary edge in the early 20th-century when Sir Edwin Lutyens was invited to create formal gardens around the house. Gertrude Jekyll is said to have overseen the planting. The house has now gone, but the formal gardens remain as created by Lutyens – said to be the finest example of his work in Ireland. Continuing to Dublin, we arrive in the late afternoon, with dinner tonight at a local restaurant. Overnight Dublin (B, L, D)

Following a lecture in our hotel, we head to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, just three kilometres from Dublin city centre. Renowned for their exquisite plant collections, they’re home to over 16,000 species and cultivars from a variety of habitats from around the world. The jewel in the Gardens’ crown though is a set of exquisitely restored and planted historic glasshouses, most notably Richard Turner’s Curvilinear Range. The gardens also include wonderfully whimsical sculpture; beautiful borders; a rose garden; and a grand row of yew trees planted when the gardens were laid out in 1795. After spending the morning here, we return to the hotel with the remainder of the day free to explore Ireland’s capital. Overnight Dublin (B)

This morning brings us to Mount Usher, spread on 20 acres of land along the River Vartry. Created in 1865, it’s the trees that make Mount Usher so special. With the river flowing through it, the gardens are now home to 32 of the Champion Trees of Ireland, as well as 4,500 other different varieties of trees, shrubs and plants. The layout of this serenely peaceful garden was heavily influenced by Ireland’s most famous gardener, William Robinson (1838-1935) of Gravetye Manor in Sussex fame, proponent of the Wild Garden. We enjoy lunch in the garden café before continuing to Hunting Brook Gardens, nestled in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. This secluded botanical paradise is home to Jimi Blake, one of Ireland’s most internationally-renowned plantsmen. It comprises five acres of contemporary exotic gardens and 15 acres of woodland gardens and valley. As Jimi says: ‘My planting style is creative and unconventional. I don’t play by the rule book. I grow exotic plants here in Hunting Brook that no one would have imagined possible. I’m not one for standing still. Nothing is ever ‘finished’ in Hunting Brook. It’s a constantly evolving canvas.’ Depending on his schedule, Jimi will take us through his trademark skill of knitting together a tapestry of new plant combinations as we explore this secluded paradise. We return to Dublin in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Dublin (B, L)

After a lecture in our hotel this morning, our garden visits culminate at Powerscourt House & Gardens, set in the wild Wicklow countryside. National Geographic recently named Powerscourt the 3rd Best Garden in the World. High praise indeed. There are so many highlights: Ireland’s longest herbaceous border; the Triton Lake with its sculpture, boathouse, and fountain based on that of the Piazza Barberini in Rome; the exquisite Japanese Garden; and most dramatic of all, the Italian Garden with its sculpture and terraces sweeping down from the house with a backdrop of Sugar Loaf Mountain. After spending the morning wandering through the sublime gardens, we cross the courtyard to the Powerscourt Distillery for a whiskey tasting, paired with locally produced artisan food. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Ireland’s top restaurants. Overnight Dublin (B, T, D)

Our tour concludes after breakfast. Please check individual travel plans for onward transfer arrangements. (B)

Hotels have been selected principally for their central location.

• Dublin, The Chancery Hotel (5 nights, total)

• Belfast, The Fitzwilliam Hotel (4 nights)

• Galway, Glenlo Abbey Hotel (2 nights)

• Cork, The River Lee Cork (4 nights)