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.
Adjoining the Augustinian Church and drawing on it’s monastic heritage the garden holds the names of loved ones to be remembered in a peaceful setting formed by pleached lime trees and standing stones surrounding a water memorial. Holly, Juniper, soft fruit trees, flowering herbaceous varieties and aromatic herbs fill the garden.
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.
Restored Victorian Walled garden with unique sunken octagonal garden, herbaceous borders, peach house, dog kennels and bothy with exhibition about the walled gardens in the area. Admission to the gardens is free of charge. Dogs and ball games are not permitted in 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. Bookings are required for the Visitor Centre which has free admission for 2021.
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
Early C19th spectacular woodland gardens with beautiful spring flowering shrubs and trees. Formal paths and terraces lead to a picturesque lake and 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) 86 2323783
Email: charles.p.carroll@gmail.com
Open: Aug 14th- 28th
Fee: €6 garden tour
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: 14th- 22nd August 2021 for Heritage Week. Also open Monday to Saturday in September.
Fee: €7 adults, €5 students/children
Sonairte, with an historic Georgian farmstead, features a walled organic garden, nature trail and ancient rath with views of Ballygarth Castle, the River Nanny estuary and the Irish Sea. Visit the Bee Museum and the Energy Education Suite. Vegetarian/ vegan cafe and eco-shop with organic, zero waste, fair trade and low carbon footprint products on sale.
Address: The Ninch, Laytown, Co Meath
Website: www.sonairte.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9827572
Email: hello@sonairte.ie
Open: Friday, Saturdays and Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Superb Georgian house dating to 1750 surrounded by 1.5 acres of lovely landscaped gardens in the centre of the Boyne Valley. Contact Frances for appointments and groups.
Address: Navan, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9825749/ (0) 87 9547883
Open: Garden by appointment
Web: balrathcourtyard.com
C18th walled garden overlooking the river Boyne, planted with a vibrant double herbaceous border, fruit trees, knot garden, lawns and restored C18th pavillion. See website for events.
Address: Drogheda, Co. Louth
Website: www.beaulieuhouse.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9838557
Email: beaulieu.house.garden@gmail.com
Open: By appointment for Groups 10-15 until 30 September and Heritage Week 14th-22nd August(numbers will be managed in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions)
A five acre nature trail with a young woodland, flowering/ fruiting hedgerows and wildflower areas, planted to encourage a diversity of wildlife. There is a 1.5km path with information points and spots to sit and listen to the birds or watch the butterflies and bees. There is a large working observation hive to view the fascinating life of the honey bee.
Address: Crerogue, Kilmessan, Co Meath
Website: www.beewise.ie
Email: paddy@beewise.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 86 3446791
Open: Open Sundays, Wednesdays (July/August) and by Appointment for Private Tours (10 or more). For private bookings or tours please contact Paddy through the website or email paddy@beewise.ie.
College Hill House, built in 1795 as a parochial house, is set in 3 acres of exciting gardens with all- year-round interest. Features a fine quality example of ancient rock art and other architectural stone works. For group visits please see website.
Address: Braystown, Slane, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 87 1400220
Email: eileen@collegehillhouse.ie
Open: By appointment only
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 are a dreamy hamlet of 300 year old thatched cottages, set in large organic flower gardens, by the seaside.
Address: Seabank, Coast Road, Bettystown, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 41 982 8104
Email: lizpickett@cottages-ireland.com
Website: cottages-ireland.com
Open: By appointment September and October for groups of 10 or more.
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. A new walled garden is now open as part of the tour. Occasional art displays. Conveniently accessible from the M3.
Address: Churchtown, Navan, Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 85 782 9966
Email: jfjmcconnell@gmail.com
Website: herberts.ie
Open: Saturdays and by appointment. Pre-booking required for groups.
Fee: €5 pp. No dogs. Not suitable for small children
This Award Winning Village Garden transformed from a derelict 3 acre site has an orchard, woodland, pollinating flowerbeds, soft fruit bushes, herbs and pond with seating scattered throughout. Created by volunteer village residents, it achieved green flag status for 2019-2020. It hosts regular family events. 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.
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 open serving beverages, scones and Laura's delicious homemade cakes.
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 is a ten acre parkland sloping down to the banks of the temperamental River Nanny. It is planted with a mixture of native trees and shrubs, interspersed with with parkland specimen trees. A separate guest house can be used for refreshments and lectures. Snacks and drinks by arrangement.
Address: Julianstown Co. Meath
Phone: +353 (0) 87 6125291
Email: dorothy@alioth.eu
Website: www.boynevalleygardentrail.com
Open: Open by appointment only until 30th September
Fee: Group tour €10 per person including refreshments. Min 6 per group
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.
Address: Kilmessan, Co. Meath
Website: www.stationhousehotel.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 46 902 5239
Email: info@stationhousehotel.ie
Open: All year
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
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, C15 P92W
Phone: +353 (0) 41 9824350
Email: aileen@boynegardencentre.ie
Open: March-September: Wednesday- Saturday 9.30am-5pm* Sunday 2pm-5pm.
*Open Easter, May, June & August Bank Holiday Monday.
October- February: Weekends only. Saturday 9.30am-5pm Sunday 2pm-5pm
Owned by John and Bernie Lord who have created one of the largest show gardens in Ireland. Garden walks and talks on request. Visit the Wildflower Cafe for tasty treats and enjoy 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.
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: Summer hours: April-July - Monday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm, Sunday 12pm-5.30pm
Autumn: August- Oct Monday to Saturday 10am-2pm
Winter: Nov-Jan: Saturday 10am-4pm
Spring: Feb- March Monday to Saturday 10am-2pm
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