Wicklow and Wexford Garden Trails

In July I headed to Ireland's County Wicklow and County Wexford (just south of Dublin) to visit some gardens. Wexford's Garden Trail map highlights 21 destinations and Wicklow's map has approx 35 places of interest to visit, many being gardens and stately homes. I discovered some of the recommended places on the Wexford 'garden trail' were garden centres but it was all quite interesting - and some of the garden centres do offer the best tray bakes (cakes) and tea! Here are a few highlights of my trip...

Above: Mount Usher in County Wicklow is a fantastic woodland garden with over 80 trees, a riverwalk, wildfower beds, garden shop and delicious cafe. The family home is in the middle of the gardens and offers a picturesque setting to walk through.

Above: A day trip to Glendalough Park in County Wicklow offers lovely walks for all abilities. The nature trail walk over bog land offers a leisurely stroll. Above is a cottage house that provides an information point and wildlife museum for visitors.

Above and Below: Johnstown's Castle in County Wexford. The castle itself isn't open to the public but might be open for tours in the future. There are a range of walks in the grounds, and a fantastic museum, Irish Agricultural Museum, that offers information on the Irish famine and what it was like to live in Ireland before, during and after the famine. The museum also has a collection of restored tractors, carts, ploughs and machinery. 

Above: Gardenworld in County Wicklow. This is a garden centre that houses a range of award winning garden designs that seem to have been re-housed on site after their exhibit in various garden shows. It is free entry to walk around the gardens and a good day out. Of course the garden centre offers a lovely restaurant and lots of interest in the  plant nursery and shop.

Above and Below: Wells House and Gardens in County Wexford offers a fantastic guided house tour that was one of the highlights of the trip. It has a Victorian Terrace Garden designed by renowned architect Daniel Robertson. A German family now live in the house and have opened it up to the public in order to help pay for the upkeep of house and grounds. It is worth a visit and worth paying for the tour.  

Above: At the end of the Wells House and Gardens house tour, the guide gave everyone a little pack of 'Victorian Seed Mix' seeds which was a really nice touch. 

There's so much to see in Ireland. 

I'd recommended July or August for a garden tour visit.

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.