Itinerary Ireland's Gardens and Castles June 5th - June 14th 2011 (10 days)

June 5th –Sunday - Day 1:

Having passed through immigration in Dublin, we will meet our bus at 9.00am and depart for the National Botanical Gardens, founded in 1795. Here you will enjoy 48 acres of gardens which feature more than 20,000 different plant species and cultivars.

Next we will visit St. Anne’s Park, best known for its roses, where an extensive rose garden was created around a vast sunken amphitheatre.

Overnight in Navan.

June 6th – Monday - Day 2:

Today, you will explore the first and largest stone castle in Ireland -Trim Castle. Located along the banks of the River Boyne, Trim Castle was constructed in 1175 and covers more than three acres. This “King of Irish Castles” was used in the filming of Braveheart.

In the afternoon you visit Butterstream Gardens where you will be drawn into a journey of unique discovery as this garden magically reveals itself to you. Linking paths, vistas and follies carefully manipulate masses of flowers and leaf forms giving delight to the senses.

Overnight in Navan. 

June 7th – Tuesday -Day 3:

Today we experience Malahide Castle and Talbot Botanic Gardens.
This irresistibly picturesque castle is set on 250 acres of parkland in the pretty seaside town of Malahide. The castle was a private home for 800 years until the 70s and gazes down on 16 acres of shrubberies and a 4-acre walled garden, containing one of the largest assemblages of non-ericaceous plants in the British Isles.

In the afternoon you have some free time to shop in Dublin before setting out for an Irish evening of entertainment.

Overnight in Dublin.

June 8th – Wednesday -Day 4:

Today you experience the Japanese Gardens in Kildare.
These beautiful gardens were created between the years 1906-1910. The Gardens, planned to symbolize the 'Life of Man', are now of international renown and are acclaimed as the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe. The gardens at Tully are a living monument to the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures in a Western setting. The symbolic garden traces the journey of a soul from Oblivion to Eternity and the human experience of the soul’s embodiment as it journeys by paths of its own choice through life. Typical ambitions toward education, marriage, or a contemplative or carefree life, achievement, happy old age and a gateway to Eternity are portrayed. Furthermore, as an example of Japanese Gardening of its period, it is perfect - a Japanese Garden with a hint of Anglicization about it was precisely the type of garden being designed in Japan in the early 1900s.

St. Fiachra Garden is our next stop. This garden seeks to capture the power of the Irish landscape in its rawest state... that of rock and water. The garden is within a natural setting of woodlands, wetlands, lakes and islands. It features monastic cells of fissured limestone surrounded by water. The inner subterranean garden, which lies within the main monastic cell, is of Waterford Crystal-shaped rocks and plants such as ferns and orchids, and is lit by fiber optics.

On our way to Killarney we visit the historic village Adare, the epitome of the grand estate village and one of the most picturesque in Ireland! Adare, with its thatched cottages covered in climbing roses and honeysuckle, was built mostly in the 18th century.

You travel on to Killarney for 2 nights.

June 9th – Thursday - Day 5:

Today you visit Muckross House and Gardens, a truly impressive 19th century manor. The splendid subtropical gardens are magically situated to flow down towards the lake. The nature walks offer a fine example of the beauty and serenity of the area. The rhododendrons will be at their peak during your visit. You may choose to rent a jaunting car and journey back in time as you explore the mystical grounds, magical forest and waterfall.

In the afternoon we visit Dunloe Castle Gardens and arboretum, with its magnificent panoramic view of the Macgillycuddy Reeks mountain range. Among the interesting plants and trees are a curious hornbeam from Asia, rare maples and Chinese cherry trees. Later in the day we visit the Europa Hotel for afternoon tea and a leisurely stroll in their garden on the shores of the lake.

Overnight in Killarney

June 10th – Friday - Day 6:

Experience the quaint country town of Kenmare on route to Glengarriff.
We journey to Garnish Island, a subtropical paradise, reachable only by boat from the village of Glengarriff. The gardens were created in 1911 and are the joint work of John Bryce, then-owner of the island, and Harold Peto, architect and garden designer. The signature area of the garden is undoubtedly the Italian Casita, overlooking a formal pool in an area lushly planted with fuchsias, camellias, myrtles and scented rhododendrons.

Our next stop is Bantry House and Gardens. This palatial estate is set on the outskirts of the busy market town. The mansion has a fabulous display of furniture and art, much of it from the 18th century. The gardens, with their "staircase to heaven" and long terraces, are exceptional.

Overnight in Blarney.

June 11th – Saturday - Day 7:

Fota Gardens, a must for tree lovers, is situated on Fota Island. On the coast close to Cork city, it is home to one of the most important collections of trees and shrubs in the British Isles. Many of the trees and shrubs would not grow elsewhere in Ireland, but thrive here thanks to the microclimate created by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. This beautiful setting of 30 acres now embraces an arboretum, a small lake, a rock garden for ferns and a walled Italian Garden.

In the afternoon we visit Blarney Castle to explore and, perhaps, kiss the Blarney Stone! Experience the beauty of Blarney and its ancient Druid heritage. In Rock Close, you might ask the giant Dolmen if it still rocks or maneuver the Wishing Steps to see if your dream comes true. Experience the sacredness at the altar of the Druids or stand in their ancient circle, and watch for the Witch as she pokes the ashes of her kitchen fire. Are there fairies at the bottom of the garden? We may never know, but we can simply marvel at the unrivalled beauty that Mother Nature so generously sets before us.
A visit to Blarney would not be complete without a shopping stop at Blarney Woollen Mills.

Overnight in Blarney.

June 12th – Sunday - Day 8:

Today your first stop will be Mount Congreve at Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, the home of Ambrose Congreve and one of the finest stately homes in Ireland. Within this magnificent 115-acre garden are over 2,000 varieties of rhododendron and azalea, 300 magnolias, camellias, berberis, viburnums, pieris and ericas, among others. These gardens contain an astonishing 9,000 varieties of rare trees and shrubs and much more.

In the afternoon we visit Kilkenny Castle, which stands dramatically on a strategic height that commands a crossing on the River Nore and dominates the 'High Town' of Kilkenny City. Over the eight centuries of its existence, many additions and alterations have been made to the fabric of the building, making Kilkenny Castle today a complex structure of various architectural styles.

Overnight in Kilkenny.

June 13th – Monday - Day 9:

Powerscourt House and Gardens. The gardens were begun by Richard Wingfield, Viscount Powerscourt, in the 1740s. The word garden belies the magnitude of this creation which stretches out over 45 acres.

Few gardens have a more magnificent setting than Powerscourt, blending house, formal gardens and natural landscape in such a seamless way. The breathtaking amphitheatre of descending terraces, monumental stairway, Triton Pool and antique statuary combined with the backdrop of the Sugarloaf Mountain makes for a very dramatic setting combining formal and casual. It is a sublime blend of gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs.

As our journey comes to a close, we travel to Dublin for an Irish farewell dinner and overnight.

June 14th – Tuesday - Day 10:

Depart from Dublin for your home city.

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Purchase: 10 Day Tour June 5th - June 29th 2011

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