Garden Trails

There’s something about gardening that gets under your skin. That connection with the earth, nurturing new life and watching it thrive is both intoxicating and rewarding. It’s a passion that you can’t just leave at home when you travel. Luckily, you don’t have to: if you’re a garden enthusiast we have a rare treat in store.

Thanks to its temperate climate West Cork is a gardener’s paradise. Plants that simply wouldn’t survive outdoors in other parts of Ireland thrive here, leading to some refreshingly original combinations. The West Cork Garden Trail brings together a selection of the region’s most eclectic, exciting and original gardens, and visiting at least some of them is a must if you’re horticulturally inclined.

The trail showcases gardens ranging from a large country estate in 40 acres of wooded valley, to sculpted gardens, organic gardens and even a bog garden.

Opening times for gardens on the trail vary, but many, like Lisselan Gardens in Clonakilty, Bantry House and Gardens in Bantry, Ewe Sculpture Garden in Glengarriff, Garnish Island in Glengarriff and others are open through much of the year. You’ll find a full list of gardens and opening times on the West Cork Garden Trail website.