Gardens of Ireland
I love the welcome that you get in Ireland, as well as the overwhelming green of the countryside, and the ambition of its gardeners. And with such a diverse range of gardens to visit, there's something to suit everone's taste!
About this tour
Ireland is one of the great gardening countries, and its mild, moist climate shows in the sheer range of plants that thrive here. The south-east, around Wicklow, is especially rich: a fertile, sheltered corner where champion trees, rhododendrons and tender exotics grow with real vigour, and where a strong tradition of naturalistic planting still runs deep.
This tour gathers a carefully chosen selection of the Republic’s finest gardens, from grand historic estates and 19th-century botanical collections to intimate, privately owned plantsmen’s gardens. Along the way we meet many of the owners and head gardeners, who share the stories behind each place and the skill that keeps it going.
Garden highlights
- National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh - champion trees and famous rhododendrons
- Mount Usher Gardens - a Robinsonian riverside garden of over 5,000 species
- Russborough House Walled Garden - vibrant borders, heirloom vegetables, and peaceful paths
- June Blake's and Hunting Brook - two contrasting gardens from the Blake family of plantspeople
- Powerscourt Gardens - a grand 18th-century garden below the Wicklow Mountains
- Prospect House Garden - elegant Georgian lawns feature box parterres, rose borders, and mountain views
- Altamont Gardens - a romantic William Robinson-inspired garden with lake and arboretum
- Patthana Garden - an artist's garden with vibrant planting and ethereal birch trees
- Dargle Glen - a romantic woodland garden of unusual plants above the River Dargle
- Corke Lodge Garden - atmospheric, green Italianate glades featuring romantic gothic architectural follies
Destination highlights
- The mild, fertile gardening country of south-east Ireland
- The naturalistic style of William Robinson, Irish-born pioneer
- Champion trees, rhododendrons and rare exotics
- Private plantsmen's gardens, with time alongside their owners
- The Wicklow Mountains and the countryside around them
Booking details
Next departure: 8 April 2027
Operator: Ace Cultural Tours
Book with Ace Cultural ToursWhat you'll learn
Ireland is a masterclass in making the most of a mild climate. You will look at how champion trees and tender exotics thrive in this sheltered, fertile corner, how the naturalistic, Robinsonian style reads in gardens like Mount Usher and Altamont, and how today’s plantspeople push the boundaries in gardens such as Hunting Brook. With head gardeners and owners on hand, there is a great deal to learn, and plenty to bring home for a mild or woodland garden of your own.
Gardens you'll visit
Kilmacurragh
world-famous collection of rare, mature conifers and rhododendrons. Its unique microclimate allows exotic Southern Hemisphere plants to thrive, creating an enchanting, historic, and brilliantly colorful woodland escape
Mount Usher
world-class Robinsonian masterpiece, charting a wild yet poetic landscape where over 5,000 exotic plant species gracefully cascade along the tranquil, winding waters of the River Vartry
Russborough House Walled Garden
stunningly restored 18th-century gem featuring vibrant herbaceous borders, organic vegetable plots, a peaceful hornbeam maze, and a lively volunteer community celebrating historical horticulture
June Blake's Garden
contemporary masterpiece, blending bold architectural plants with dramatic colour-themed meadows. It challenges traditional design, offering a breathtaking, deeply inspiring sensory experience for plant lover
Hunting Brook Gardens
thrilling contemporary paradise, pairing Jimi Blake’s famous collection of rare, exotic treasures with dramatic woodland trails and a passionate, expert-led approach to wild, immersive planting
Powerscourt Gardens
breathtaking masterpiece on a monumental scale, showcasing a dramatic Italianate terrace, a sensory Japanese wonderland, and a towering waterfall set perfectly against the magnificent backdrop of Wicklow's Sugarloaf Mountain
Altamont Gardens
romantic oasis blending formal lawns with wild woodland. It features a spectacular snowdrop collection, a peaceful lake, and a dramatic riverside walk along an ancient 'ice age' glen
Patthana Garden
an artist-designed private oasis in Wicklow. It masterfully weaves painterly, exuberant colour palettes with a wildlife-friendly, organic ethos, featuring circular lawns, a sunken garden, and a tranquil pelargonium room
Dargle Glen Garden
historic Wicklow chasm where the River Dargle cuts through ancient woods. It features dramatic cliffs, mossy boulders, and the iconic, cantilevered Goulding Summer House bridging nature with architecture
Corke Lodge Garden
theatrical, green-dominated masterclass in architectural structure. It frames gothic follies around Ireland’s oldest cork oak, weaving avenues of tree ferns and palms into a romantic Mediterranean wilderness
Beyond the gardens
The setting is as rewarding as the gardens. The Wicklow Mountains, the rivers and the woodland give the whole trip a soft, green beauty, and there is history too, from Powerscourt’s great demesne to Russborough House. Based comfortably in Wicklow, there is time to enjoy the Irish welcome, the scenery and the easy pace between visits.
My hope is that you come home with more than photographs: a feel for how a mild, moist climate opens up what you can grow, a renewed love of naturalistic planting, and the warmth of having met the people who make these Irish gardens what they are.