Boyne Valley Garden Trail

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

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. 

• 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 

Barmeath Castle

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 1^st–31^st, June 1^st–9^th, 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

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-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 1^st–20^th, May 1st-15th, June 1^st-10^th, Aug 14^th- 28^th

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

St. Mary’s Abbey, 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

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.

Bee Wise 

A five acre nature trail comprising of a variety of young woodland, flowering/ fruiting hedgerows and wildflower areas planted to encourage a diversity of wildlife. A 1.5km path has information points and benches along the route and a large working observation hive gives an insight into the life of the honey bee. 

Address: Crerogue, Kilmessan, Co Meath 

Website: www.beewise.ie

Email: paddy@beewise.ie

Open: For Open Days where you can take an educational/leisure self-guided walk around the nature trail using the information points along the way see website or Facebook. Time slots will have to be booked in advance via Facebook or email.  For private bookings or tours please contact Paddy through the website or email paddy@beewise.ie

College Hill House

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

Web:  www.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)

The Cottages are a dreamy hamlet of 300 year old thatched cottages, set in large organic flower gardens, by the seaside. Contact: Liz and Roger Pickett info@thecottages-ireland.com

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.

Herbert’s Garden

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

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 Hotel

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

Phone:  +353 (0) 41 9824350

Email:  boynegardencentre@eircom.net

Web:  www.boynegardencentre.ie

Open TImes: 

March-September: Thursday- Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm* Sunday 2pm-5.30pm.

*Open Easter, May, June & August Bank Holiday Monday.

October- February: Weekends only. Saturday 10-5pm Sunday 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.