Gardens of West Cork
Fully Guided
Your Guided Garden Tour of West Cork
Visit some of the most beautiful gardens of West Cork with us and enjoy a short break in the Rebel County. Our hotel will be based in Bantry, a busy market town and fishing port at the head of the legendary Bantry Bay. Our garden holiday will begin at Pine Tree Lodge, a vibrant haven featuring pollinator-friendly plants, colourful flowers, and diverse greenery. We’ll explore the stately home of Bantry House, located on the Wild Atlantic Way, which offers fantastic views over Bantry Bay, and take a ferry to visit Garnish Island, renowned for its beautiful gardens and exotic plants. This tour offers the opportunity to experience some of the loveliest gardens in West Cork, each with its own unique collection of plants, while also enjoying some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland.
Please Note: This holiday begins and ends at Cork Kent Station
Trip Itinerary
Day
Meet in Cork & Pinetree Lodge Garden
Pinetree Lodge Garden
Full DayOur tour begins in Cork around lunchtime, where we meet our coach and garden guide, Iain MacDonald, at Kent Train Station. At approximately 13:00, we set off for Pinetree Lodge Garden, lovingly created by Erika and Harry Sexton.
This vibrant sanctuary is designed with biodiversity in mind: pollinator-friendly plants, flowers, and fruit thrive here alongside a pond teeming with fish, frogs, and insects, making it a true oasis of life.
Later this afternoon, we continue to Bantry, where we will be based at The Maritime Hotel. Dinner is included each evening of our stay.
Bantry House & Garden, Glengarriff and Garnish Island
Bantry House & Garden
MorningAfter a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to Bantry House & Garden for a guided tour of this historic stately home, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Bantry. Open to the public since 1946, its Italian-style gardens are spread over seven terraces, with the house beautifully situated on the third.
Glengarriff & Garnish Island
AfternoonWe then enjoy some free time in Glengarriff before boarding the ferry to Garnish Island (Ilnacullin). Nestled in a sheltered harbour, the island’s gardens are renowned for their variety and design, featuring highlights such as a sunken garden, a Grecian temple, and a walled garden.
After our visit, we return by ferry and transfer back to the hotel.
Ballycommane Gardens and Kilravock Gardens
Ballycommane Gardens
MorningThe morning is at leisure before our late-morning departure for Ballycommane Gardens, a hidden gem set among the rolling hills of West Cork. Spread across four acres, the gardens showcase over 1,000 native and exotic shrubs and trees, ensuring colour and interest throughout the year.
Kilvarock Gardens
AfternoonIn the afternoon, after some free time for lunch in Durrus (at own expense), we continue to Kilravock Gardens, now privately owned by Ronnie Halligan. Framed by sweeping views of Dunmanus Bay, the gardens feature a wide variety of exotic and native plants flourishing in the mild local microclimate.
Inish Beg Estate and return to Cork Kent Station
Inish Beg Estate
MorningAfter checking out of our hotel, we enjoy a morning visit to the gardens of Inish Beg Estate. This 40-hectare estate is a diverse landscape of woodlands, meadows, orchards, a walled garden, and a sunken garden.
Return to Cork
AfternoonFollowing our visit, we transfer back to Kent Train Station in Cork, arriving at approximately 14:00, where our tour concludes.
* We aim to operate your tour itinerary according to the format shown. Occasionally, local conditions and unexpected events may result in adjustments to the planned schedule. We kindly ask for your understanding and flexibility in the event of any changes.
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Know before you go
What if there is an emergency?
We have local representatives in all of our destinations who are available 24/7 as well as an emergency contact number for our offices in Ireland should you ever need it.
Do I need a Visa?
Please visit our visa page for information on requirements for each country's entry requirements
Will I be met at the airport?
You will be met on arrival at your destination airport and transferred to your accommodation. You will be accompanied on all included excursions by your Travel Department guide. Your expert local guide is also available to give you tips and advice on any aspect of your holiday.
