Historic Properties and gardens

County Wicklow is also knows as 'The Garden of Ireland' because of its outstanding natural beauty. No less than five internationally famous heritage properties and gardens are situated in County Wicklow and are considered an absolute 'must see' by garden and architecture enthusiasts.

Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall is one of the world's great gardens situated in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. It is a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and a fantastic terrace café. See for yourself on www.powerscourt.ie

Killruddery House and Gardens is unique in having the most extensive early formal gardens, still in their original style, surviving in Ireland. Well worth a visit for its splendid house with orangery, sylvan theatre and lime tree avenue.

Altamont Garden in Tullow is a large, beautiful Old World garden with both formal and informal lawns and clipped yews sloping down to a lake surrounded by rare trees, rhododendrons and shrubs. A fascinating walk through the arboretum, bog garden and Ice Age Glen with its canopy of ancient Oaks leads to the River Slaney.

Russborough overlooking the Blessington Lakes, is a beautifully maintained Palladian style house which is famous for housing the Beit Collection, fine furniture, tapestries, porcelain, silver and bronzes.

Mount Usher in Ashford is a Robinsonian garden and dates from the 1860s. The magnificent garden contains approx. 5000 different species of plants and trees including rhodondendrons, magnolias, camelias and eucryphia.