The rich heritage of the Boyne Valley is reflected in gardens that date back to the C17th. Each garden member is open either by appointment, or for a set number of days/year. Many gardens host events, including walks, charity fetes, plant sales, outdoor theatre, music and much more. Check websites for more details.
Historic Gardens
Augustinian Garden of Remembrance
- Address: Augustinian Garden of Remembrance, Shop Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
- Website: www.boynevalleygardentrail.com
- Phone: +353 (0)41 9838409
- Open: Apr-Oct 9am - 6pm, Nov-Mar 9am -3pm
- Fee: Free
Unique, C18th landscape designed by Tomas Wright includes fine specimen azaleas and rhododendrons. A recently restored walled garden restoration project is a joy to visit with opulent herbaceous borders and kitchen garden plots. Groups by appointment.
- Address: Dunleer, Co. Louth
- Website: www.boynevalleygardentrail.com
- Phone: +353 (0) 41 6851205
- Open: May 1st–31st, June 1st–9th, 9am-1pm. Heritage Week in August
- Fee: €5. Children Free
Battle of the Boyne, Oldbridge House and Gardens
Walled garden with newly restored sunken octagonal garden, peach house, apple orchard, newly planted herbaceous borders and historic garden exhibition in the Bothy. Tea Pavilion overlooking the gardens.
Address: Drogheda, Co. Meath
Website: www.battleoftheboyne.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9809950
Email: battleoftheboyne@opw.ie
Open: All year except Christmas and New Year
Fee: Gardens are free. Admission charges to Visitor Centre
World War I poet and soldier, Francis Ledwidge was born and raised in this restored C19th labourers cottage containing memorabilia. The pretty cottage garden reminds us of the poet’s love for nature deep in the countryside of Slane
Address: Janeville, Slane, Co. Meath
Website: www.francisledwidge.com
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9824544
Email: info@francisledwidge.com
Open: 7 days: Mar-Oct 10am -5pm, Oct-Mar 10am-3.30pm
Fee: €3 adults, €2 seniors and students, €6 family
Killineer House and Gardens
Early C19th gardens with formal paths descending from terraces and lawns to a woodland walk, beautiful lake, swans and a summerhouse. A visit to the 1.5 acre walled garden with fruit trees, herbaceous borders and vegetables is heavenly. Groups by appointment.
Address: Drogheda, Co. Louth
Website: www.killineerhouse.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 419838563
Email: charles.p.carroll@gmail.com
Open: Feb 1st–20th, May 1st-15th, June 1st-10th, Aug 14th- 28th
Fee: €6 garden tour
Listoke Garden, Cafe, Art Gallery and Mead Hall
Beautiful Edwardian garden with rare and special herbeaceous plants, woodland walk and a small menagerie of feathered friends to delight all ages. Art Gallery, Pavillion Tea Rooms, Garden Shop, Distillery & Gin School and Accommodation.
Address: Ballymakenny Rd, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Website: www.listoke.com
Phone: +353 (0) 86 2118741 / (0) 87 7447057
Email: info@listoke.com
Open: Apr-Sep Wed-Sun 11am-5pm, Oct-Mar Fri-Sun 11am-4pm
Fee: €5 Guided Garden Tour – Groups by appointment
Rokeby Hall
Built by architect Francis Johnston in the C18th, Rokeby won the An Taisce Ellison Award in 2013 for the restoration of its Turner designed conservatory. House and garden can be visited at times listed. Groups of 8 by appointment
Address: Grangebellew, Dunleer, Co. Louth
Website: www.rokeby.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 86 8644228
Email: info@rokeby.ie
Open: May & Sep Mon-Sat 10am-2pm. Heritage Week 10am-2pm
Fee: €7 adults, €5 students/children
An intriguing, medieval abbey dating back to 1415 with walled kitchen garden overlooking the River Boyne and Trim Castle. Converted to a manor house and then a school. St. Mary has centuries of history to tell.
Address: High Street, Trim, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 87 2057176
Email: phiggins@reganmcentee.ie
Web: www.boynevalleygardentrail.com
Open: Various dates throughout the year – see website for details
Fee: €5 Adult - €2 Unwaged
By Appointment Gardens
Balrath House and Courtyard
A perfectly romantic Georgian house built in 1760, set in idyllic gardens, Balrath House offers 4 star self-catering accommodation. Please see website for reservations and to book a visit.
Address: Navan, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9825749
Open: Garden by appointment
Web: balrathcourtyard.com
Beaulieu House and Garden
C18th walled garden overlooking the river Boyne, planted with a vibrant double herbaceous border, fruit trees, knot garden, lawns and summer house. Tea and coffee by arrangement
Address: Drogheda, Co. Louth
Website: www.beaulieuhouse.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9838557
Email: info@beaulieuhouse.ie
Open: Garden by appointment.
This lovely 1795 house is set in three acres of delightful, landscaped formal and informal garden and grounds. For reservations and group visits please see website.
Address: Braystown, Slane, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9824768
Email: eileen@collegehillhouse.ie
Open: Year Round
Collon House
Historic home built in 1740, with fine Georgian interiors and an enclosed, ornamental garden with period planting. Award winning period accommodation is offered. Tea/Coffee by arrangement. Please see website for more details.
Address: Collon, Co. Louth
Phone: +353 (0) 87 2355645
Email: collonhousereception@gmail.com
Web: www.collonhouse.com
Open: By appointment only
The Cottages (Open by Appointment)
Address: Seabank, Coast Road, Bettystown, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 982 8104
Email: info@cottages-ireland.com
Website: cottages-ireland.com
Open: By appointment Spring & Autumn only. Min group of 10.
Designer James McConnell’s garden features a formal beech garden, boxwood parterre and a rose garden with a folly. Enjoy the lime walk, hornbeam arbour and vistas of parkland beautifully laid out around an early C19th farmhouse. Conveniently accessible from the M3 motorway and close to Navan, Trim, Kells, Athboy. Groups pre-book.
Address: Churchtown, Navan, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 85 782 9966
Email: jfjmcconnell@gmail.com
Website: herberts.ie
Open: Sat 10.30am - 6pm from May 1st - 30th Sept
Fee: €5 pp. No dogs. Not suitable for small children
Julianstown Village Garden
This Award Winning Village Garden has an orchard, woodland, flowerbeds, soft fruit bushes, herbs, pond and scattered seating. Plants for pollinators and biodiversity encourage bees and butterflies. Teddy Bears' Picnic. June 11th. Halloween Night Event October 31st. Check website for details.
Address: Julianstown, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 86 3477283
Email: nuil1@eircom.net
Website: www.julianstowncommunity.com
Open: Open All Year
Fee: Free. Guided tours €5 pp
Kilgar Gardens covers an area of 3 acres comprising of beautifully planted formal & informal garden rooms, graduating to a more naturalistic style of planting towards the outer reaches. Tearooms are now open every weekend serving sweet treats
Address: Gallow, Kilcock, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 87 134 4950
Email: kilgargardens@gmail.com
Website: kilgargardens.com
Open: Weekends May -Sept. Groups by appointment.
Fee: €5 per person
Rosemount
Once upon a time, "Rosemount" was a commercial orchard, sloping down to the treacherous river Nanny. Today, it is an enchanted riverscape garden set on ten acres, studded with a collection of unusual trees and outhouses. Teas, apéritifs, music lectures, political and economic talks by arrangement.
Address: Julianstown Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9829302
Email: martin@alioth.eu
Website: www.boynevalleygardentrail.com
Open: Open by appointment only
Fee: Group guided tour €5 per person, min €75 per group
Sonairte Visitor Eco-Centre & Gardens
Sonairte is a great place for a family day out; developed arund a traditional C18th Irish farmstead. Visit the productive walled garden and nature trail along the pretty River Nanny and learn about bees at the Bee Museum. Craft and food fairs all year round. Coffee shop on-site. See web for details.
Address: The Ninch, Laytown, Co Meath
Website: www.sonairte.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9827572
Email: info@sonairte.ie
Open: See website
The Station House is the Boyne Valley’s top country house hotel with exquisitely tended gardens creating an oasis of relaxation. Country-style afternoon teas, with a special discount to Trail visitors can be booked year round. (Quote BVGT2019).
Address: Kilmessan, Co. Meath
Website: www.stationhousehotel.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 46 902 5239
Email: info@stationhousehotel.ie
Open: All year
Tankardstown House
Tankardstown comprises 80 acres of woodland, parkland, courtyards and walled gardens. A 500m lime tree avenue leads up to the late C18th Manor House with wonderfully tended gardens and surrounds. The walled kitchen garden supplies the award winning Brabazon Restaurant.
Address: Rathkenny, Slane, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9824621
Email: info@tankardstown.ie
Website: www.tankardstown.ie
Open: Garden by appointment only
Garden Centres
Boyne Garden Centre
Multi-Award winning Garden Centre, with several ‘Best in Show’ & eight successive Gold Medals at Bloom. Renowned for their unique selection of top quality plants, grown in their own nursery, with special emphasis on plants that encourage pollinators and biodiversity. See website for catalogue. Members of ISNA [Irish Specialist Nursery Association].
Address: Ardcalf, Slane, Co. Meath, C15P92W.
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9824350
Email: aileen@boynegardencentre.ie
Open TImes:
- Mar-Sept, Wed.-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm. (open Spring & Summer Bank Holidays)
- Oct-Feb, Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm.
Ratoath Garden Centre
A garden centre in a garden with beautifully planted borders. One of the largest show gardens in Ireland. Please check website for free informative Summer gardening talks. Sample tasy treats at the Wildflower Café and shop in the eclectic gift shop.
Address: Raystown, Ashbourne, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 1 8256678
Email: ratoathgardencentre@hotmail.com
Web: www.ratoathgardencentre.ie
Open: Summer, Mon-Sun 10am-6pm. Winter, Mon-Sun 10am-5pm.
Riverlane Nurseries
Owned by John and Eileen Eivers – winner of Gold, Gilt and Silver medals at BLOOM, the nursery specialises in herbaceous perennials and cottage garden plants.
Address: Roristown Lodge, Trim, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 87 6363506
Email: info@riverlane.ie
Web: www.riverlane.ie
Open: Mid Mar-Aug Mon-Sat 10.00am -5.30pm, Sun 12.00pm -5.30pm. Sep-Mid Mar Mon-Fri 10.00am -2.00pm, Sat 10.00pm -5pm.
