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
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
Beaulieu House and Gardens
C18th walled garden overlooking the river Boyne, planted with a vibrant double herbaceous border, fruit trees, knot garden, lawns and summer house. House and garden open dates listed. Tea and coffee by arrangement. Groups by appointment, 40 min guided tour of the house. Garden self-guided.
Address: Drogheda, Co. Louth
Website: www.beaulieuhouse.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9838557
Email: info@beaulieuhouse.ie
Open: 1st June – 10th Sept, Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, July/Aug Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm
Fee: €10 house tour, €5 garden only, under16 free
Killineer House & 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 Gardens, Gallery, Shop, Tea Rooms
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 - www.listokedistillery.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 86 2118741 / (0) 87 7447057
Email: info@listoke.com
Open: From April-September, Mondy-Sunday. From October-March, Thursday-Sunday 11am-4.30pm.
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 & September - Monday to Saturday, 10am-2pm. Heritage Week - August 19th-22nd, 10am-2pm
Fee: €7 adults, €5 students/children
Francis Ledwidge Museum
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-March 10am-3.30pm
Fee: €3 adults, €2 seniors and students, €6 family
Loughcrew House & Gardens
Magnificent restored gardens with yew walk, woodland walks, walled garden, canal and parterre – nestled close to the iconic Loughcrew Cairns. Adventure centre and coffee shop on-site. Please see website for more details
Address: Oldcastle, Co. Meath
Website: www.loughcrew.com
Phone: +353 (0) 49 8541356
Email: info@loughcrew.com
Open: All year. Weekdays 10am-5pm, Weekends 11am-5pm.
Fee: €6 Adults, €5 OPW, €3 Chrildren. €20 Family.
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: Tues-Sun, Jan-Nov, 10.30am-5pm, Dec closes 4.30pm
Fee: €2 Adult.
St. Marys Abbey, High Street, Trim, Co. Meath
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
Bramley Cottage
Jane McCorkell, seven times Gold Medal winner at Bloom opens her own gorgeous garden by appointment in June. Pelase see her website for more details and to book a visit.
Address: The Rath Farm, Kilsallaghan, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 87 6839520
Email: jane@janemccorkell.com
Open: June. Please contact the owner for an appointment
College Hill House
This lovely 1820’s house and Bed and Breakfast accommodation and is set in three acres of delightful landscaped 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
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
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
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 including 'Best in Show' at BLOOM 2016 and five successive Gold Medals at BLOOM, Ireland since 2012. Renowned for their unique selection of top quality plants, grown in their nursery with an emphasis on varieties that encourage pollinators and biodiversity. See website for plant catalogue.
Address: Ardcalf, Slane, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9824350
Email: boynegardencentre@eircom.net
Open: March-Sept, Mon-Sat 9.30-6pm, Sun 2pm-6pm (inc Bank Holidays) Oct-Feb, Sat 9.30am-6pm, Sun 2pm-6pm.
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: March – September, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12-5.30pm. Oct-Feb, Weds-Sat 10am-5pm
