Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
The Bayview Hotel
- 8 Jul
Nestled cliffside in the unspoilt fishing village of Ballycotton the Bayview Hotel overlooks a spectacular coastline. This family run East Cork hotel has comfortable, well equipped bedrooms and is an…
Gardens of Cork
Fully
Guided
3
Nights
4
Half Board
- Discover the gardens of Cork on this 3-night garden holiday in Ireland.
- Visit a range of private and public gardens, including Ballymaloe Cookery School & Blarney Castle Gardens.
- Be accompanied by Iain MacDonald, a qualified and experienced gardener and guide throughout the tour.
Book Your Trip From €1058pp
Book Your Trip From €899pp
Your Guided Garden Tour Of Cork
Visit some of the most beautiful Gardens of Cork with us and enjoy a short break in the Rebel County. Our hotel will be based in Ballycotton, a scenic and historic fishing village. We’ll visit Ballymaloe Cookery School; this beautiful country house is filled with history and surrounded by wonderful gardens, including an extensive vegetable garden that supplies their cookery school and restaurant. At Fota Arboretum & Gardens, we’ll see its impressive collection of trees and shrubs that span over an area of 27 acres. The gardens and arboretum have many impressive features including an ornamental pond, walled gardens and an Italian garden. Another highlight of this tour is Beechwood Gardens, set on 1 acre, it encompasses many features and has panoramic views of the countryside and we’ll also discover Blarney Castle Gardens, home to the famous Blarney Stone. This tour offers an opportunity to experience some of the loveliest gardens in Cork, where each garden we will visit has its own collection of unique plants.
Trip Itinerary
Day
1
Shanagarry Design Centre & Ballymaloe Cookery School
Meet in Cork & Shanagarry Design Centre
Afternoon
Our tour begins in Cork where we will meet with our coach & guide Iain MacDonald at Kent Train Station. Join us as we depart Cork at noon for our journey to Shanagarry Design Centre where we will have free time for lunch (at own expense) before our visit to Ballymaloe Cookery School.
Ballymaloe Cookery School & Seanabea Garden
Afternoon
This afternoon we will explore the Gardens at Ballymaloe Cookery School – on our guided tour of these splendid gardens we will explore the extensive Herb Garden and Herbaceous Borders with the wonderful Shell House. Our final visit this afternoon will be to the Seanabea Cottage, a seaside cottage garden of 1.25 acres with colourful Herbaceous Borders, Roses, Fuschias, Dahlias and a Kitchen Garden.
Transfer to our hotel in Ballycotton where we will dine together this evening.
2
Fota Arboretum, Coosheen Garden & Hillside Gardens
Fota Arboretum & Gardens
Morning
Following a leisurely breakfast, we depart our hotel for a visit to Fota for a tour of the Arboretum & Garden where rare plants flourish thanks to the gentle climate offered by Cork harbour. We will have some free time here for lunch (at own expense) before our afternoon visits.
Coosheen Garden & Hillside Gardens
Afternoon
This afternoon we visit Hester Forde’s Coosheen Garden on the estuary of Cork harbour. A series of raised beds and troughs are home to rare and unusual small perennials, alpines and bulbs. Our next visit today is to Hillside Gardens enviably situated on a gentle south facing slope enclosed by woodlands.
3
Bride Park Cottage & Blarney Castle Gardens
Bride Park Cottage
Morning
Join us this morning on a visit to Bride Park Cottage, the garden of artist and flower arranger, DJ Murphy.
Blarney Castle Gardens
Afternoon
Our afternoon visit is to Blarney Castle Gardens where the Herbaceous borders and shrubberies provide a splendid display of colour and structure. It also has a Poisonous Garden, Fern & Icehouse, Bog Garden and Arboretum.
4
Old Deanery Garden & Beechwood Gardens
Old Deanery Garden
Morning
After checking out of our hotel join us on a visit to The Old Deanery Garden in Cloyne which is set in 16 acres of parkland surrounding a Georgian House. Features include a restored walled garden, wildlife lake and a garden railway.
Beechwood Gardens
Morning
Our next visit this morning is to Beechwood Gardens, which are on a sloping one-acre site with panoramic views of rolling countryside. The garden has been developed over the years and included a large natural water feature, scree beds along with an interesting use of herbaceous / grasses in planting scheme and imaginative use of old stone.
Return to Cork Kent Station
Afternoon
We will have some free time for lunch (at own expense) at The Elm Tree in Glounthaune before transferring to Kent Station in Cork at approximately 1500hrs where our tour together will end.
* We aim to operate your tour itinerary according to the format shown. Occasionally, local conditions and unexpected events may result in adjustments to the planned schedule. We kindly ask for your understanding and flexibility in the event of any changes
Hotels Available
Know before you go
Will I be met at the airport?
You will be met on arrival at your destination airport and transferred to your accommodation. You will be accompanied on all included excursions by your Travel Department guide. Your expert local guide is also available to give you tips and advice on any aspect of your holiday.
Do I need a Visa?
Please visit our visa page for information on requirements for each country's entry requirements
What if there is an emergency?
We have local representatives in all of our destinations who are available 24/7 as well as an emergency contact number for our offices in Ireland should you ever need it.
