Garden Tours
Gardens of Dublin & the Wicklow Mountains – Gardeners World Exclusive Tour
Join renowned horticulturist, writer, broadcaster and former BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Deputy Editor David Hurrion for an exceptional week exploring some of Ireland’s most inspiring gardens.
From intimate private gardens and pioneering contemporary planting to great historic estates and botanical collections, this exclusive tour reveals the extraordinary diversity of Ireland’s gardening tradition. Along the way, David will share his expert eye for plants, design, cultivation and the practical lessons that can be taken home and applied in our own gardens.
The tour combines private access, expert-led garden visits, elegant country-house surroundings and hidden gems, creating a rewarding experience for both passionate gardeners and those simply looking to discover the beauty of Ireland. From the exuberant exotic planting of Hunting Brook to the tranquil woodland of Corke Lodge; from the grandeur of Powerscourt to the intensely personal world of Patthana; from historic Huntington to the working landscape of Airfield, this tour showcases the extraordinary range of Dublin and Wicklow’s gardening culture.
And throughout it all, David Hurrion provides the expert commentary, practical knowledge and infectious enthusiasm that turns every visit into an opportunity to learn something new.
what’s included
At A Glance
Meet Your Expert Guide
David Hurrion
David is an accomplished plantsman, gardener, writer and broadcaster who has been growing plants for more than forty years. His extensive practical experience is underpinned by botanical and scientific training, together with a deep understanding of garden design, wildlife, geology and climate.
David has worked in gardens and nurseries, taught horticulture and spent more than twenty years writing and editing gardening publications, including BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. A genial and highly knowledgeable host, he has travelled widely in search of plants and gardens and brings both practical insight and infectious enthusiasm to every visit.
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour managers’ discretion.
Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Dublin
Fly from London Heathrow to Dublin. On arrival in Dublin, meet the group and transfer to the hotel, settling into your Irish garden adventure. There will be time to relax and perhaps explore the hotel grounds set amidst 55 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland before meeting fellow guests over a welcome drink.
This evening David will officially introduce the tour with an opening presentation which will provide an entertaining introduction to Irish gardening and the themes that will emerge throughout the week – from planting for Ireland’s climate to the relationship between formal gardens and the surrounding landscape. This will be followed by dinner with wine at the hotel.
Day 2: Jimi and June Blake, and Russborough
Today begins with two of Ireland’s most distinctive private gardens before moving to the magnificent historic setting of Russborough.
We start the day in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains with a visit to Hunting Brook, the creation of renowned plantsman, Jimi Blake. The garden combines approximately five acres of contemporary exotic gardens with around fifteen acres of woodland and valley. Its planting is famous for exuberance, experimentation and an extraordinary diversity of plants. We will have a private guided tour from Jimi Blake. Expect a particularly stimulating visit for plant enthusiasts, with opportunities to see how bold combinations of foliage, colour, texture and structure can be used to create a garden that feels both highly designed and wonderfully natural. The valley and woodland provide a very different experience, with mature trees, rhododendrons, Japanese maples, magnolias and ferns leading towards views of the Wicklow landscape.
Next, we continue onto June Blake’s Tinode Garden a secluded garden filled with vibrant colour and rare plants. Designed as a work of living art, it has a combination of strong garden and densely planted borders, with perennials and grasses and offers a more structured yet equally imaginative contrast to Hunting Brook. We will enjoy a private guided tour of the garden from June Blake. Afterwards, we will have the chance to enjoy a light lunch at the gardens.
The afternoon brings us to Russborough, one of Ireland’s great historic estates. The estate’s extensive parklands cover more than 200 acres and include formal landscape gardens, woodland and lakes. Its walled garden, originally created to supply the house with fruit, vegetables and flowers, has been restored and is now cared for by volunteers from the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. There will be time to enjoy a tour of the house followed by a visit to the walled garden and further time to explore the gardens and wider parkland.
Day 3: Trudder Grange Garden, Mount Usher & Kilmacurragh
Today’s visits move south through some of the most beautiful countryside associated with the Garden of Ireland. We start the day at Trudder Grange Garden, a mature private garden developed over several decades and combines rare shrubs and herbaceous plants with an organic vegetable garden and wildflower meadow.
Next, we continue onto one of Ireland’s best-known gardens, Mount Usher. Renowned as a classic Robinsonian garden and celebrated for its naturalistic approach, extensive plant collection and beautiful relationship with the River Vartry. The garden has developed over approximately 150 years and is particularly interesting for its use of mature trees, shrubs and herbaceous planting in a landscape that feels both spontaneous and carefully composed. Monty Don has even claimed it to be one of his favourite and top gardens to visit.
After some free time for lunch (at own expense), we visit Kilmacurragh, the historic outpost of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland for a private guided tour. This tranquil garden has roots extending back to a seventh-century monastery and is now renowned for its rare horticultural collections and remarkable plantings including its rhododendron, magnolias, and conifer collection. Kilmacurragh provides a fascinating contrast to the private gardens visited earlier in the week: here the emphasis is on botanical interest, mature trees, plant collections and the historic development of Irish horticulture.
Day 4: Airfield Estate and Danesmoate
We start the day with a visit to the Airfield Estate, a unique working estate in the heart of Dublin, combining gardens, farming, food and horticulture. The gardens have evolved over decades and came to prominence under the leadership of plantsman Jimi Blake. Later redevelopment involved garden and landscape designers Arabella Lennox-Boyd and Dermot Foley. We will have a guided tour of the gardens with highlights including the Walled Garden, with herbaceous borders and pleached Malus trees, and the organically certified Organic Food Garden, which supplies produce for the estate’s kitchen and farmers’ market. Our visit is planned to coincide with the local Farmer’s Market, and time will be given to browse local Irish products, artisan foods, flowers and local specialities.
After free time for lunch (at own expense), we continue onto one of the highlights of the tour, with a rare opportunity to visit Danesmoate, the private estate owned by U2 guitarist Adam Clayton, who acquired the house in 1988 and where U2 recorded ‘The Joshua Tree’ two years earlier. We will have a private guided tour of the gardens with the Head Gardener, Darragh Stone, (subject to confirmation) who will provide an unusually intimate insight into the management of the gardens. Danesmoate is today celebrated for its diverse plantings including an impressive collection of magnolias and rhododendrons as well as its ongoing development of a walled garden and newly installed glasshouse.
Day 6: Powerscourt Gardens and Corke Lodge
No tour of the gardens of Wicklow would be complete without Powerscourt which we will visit this morning. Set against the Wicklow Mountains, Powerscourt encompasses 47 acres of landscaped gardens, with formal terraces, statues, lakes, woodland walks and sweeping views towards the Great Sugar Loaf. The famous Italian Garden descends in dramatic terraces towards Triton Lake, while the Japanese Garden, walled garden and other areas provide a remarkable range of horticultural styles and experiences.
Free time for lunch at Powerscourt (at own expense) before we continue onto the intimacy of the private garden of Corke Lodge. Described as a secret Irish garden by architect and designer Alfred Cochrane, Corke Lodge combines romantic Gothic follies, woodland planting and carefully framed vistas, including Mediterranean cypresses. Owner Alfred will welcome us to his garden and give some history and background before we are able to explore the gardens in more depth. After the scale and grandeur of Powerscourt, Corke Lodge provides a fascinating private-garden experience – demonstrating how atmosphere, enclosure, mature planting and carefully positioned views can transform a relatively intimate landscape.
Day 5: Patthana Garden and Huntington Castle
Today we discover one of Wicklow’s most intimate and characterful gardens, Patthana Garden in the village of Kiltegan. Home and creation of artist and author T.J Maher the garden reflects his artistic eye with exuberant colour, imaginative planting and a highly personal approach to design. The original inner garden includes a circular lawn, herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs, while newer areas include the Torc Garden, developed on adjoining land and incorporating meadow planting and wildlife-friendly ideas. It is a wonderful example of how an individual gardener can use colour, texture and composition to create something highly personal. We will be able to gain a personal insight into the garden on a private guided tour with T.J followed by a light lunch at the gardens.
This afternoon we cross into County Carlow for a visit to Huntington Castle, a remarkable estate whose story stretches back to 1625. The formal gardens were laid out in the late 17th century, and the estate retains its historic lime-tree avenue, formal Italian parterre, rose walk, water gardens and famous 500-year-old Yew Walk. We have the opportunity to visit the interior of the castle followed by time spent in the wonderful gardens.
Day 7: Ardán Garden and Medina Garden
We begin our final morning at Ardán, an intensely planted garden in Howth. The garden started its life as a rugged mountainside garden while today it has been transformed into a dynamic contemporary and ever-evolving garden which has an eclectic botanical collection. Owners Nuala and Conall will give a guided tour of the gardens highlighting all the different areas including densely plated herbaceous borders, a white garden, an exotic garden with a pond and bog, vegetable garden and a small woodland area.
Our final visit offers one last opportunity to enjoy Ireland’s distinctive approach to planting and private garden design at the Medina Garden. A private coastal garden which has a tropical feel and specialising in palms, tree ferns, bamboo as well as other architectural plants. The garden is award-winning and features a small Japanese-style garden, woodland area, water feature as well as a patio area and various mixed borders.
Following the visit, rejoin the coach for the transfer to Dublin Airport and return flight to London.
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HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
The Killashee Hotel
Set amidst 55 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodlands, just outside Naas in County Kildare, Killashee Hotel is a gracious four-star retreat exuding Victorian charm. With 141 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, including the characterful Manor House rooms with period details and antique bathtubs, the hotel offers a tranquil and refined atmosphere. Guests can unwind in the award-winning spa, take a dip in the indoor pool, or enjoy leisurely dining at the Pippin Tree or Oak & Anvil restaurants. The peaceful surroundings, inviting lounges, and garden walks make Killashee a perfect base for a country escape with easy access to Dublin.
Hotel Website
our regular tours
Mobility Information
This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
There will be plenty of walking on grass, gravel or uneven ground, and the group will be standing for extended periods during guided tours. Powerscourt’s terraced Italian Garden and the wider grounds involve some inclines. Some visits may involve uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction.
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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