The Gardens of SW Ireland: Wild, exotic & luxurious planting to inspire

5 days | £3550 per person with flights | 6 - 10 July 2026

Wild, exotic & luxurious planting to inspire

In this Emerald Isle, the further west one ventures, the more the romantic wonder of the gardens intensifies. Gardens incorporating views of rugged coastlines with overwhelming peace and beauty. Gardens with verdant groves of almost unrecognisable plants that are thriving beyond the dreams that we may hold for the same species in our own patches. In her book ‘The Irish Garden’ (2015), Jane Powers asks “How can such exotics survive on an island that is as far north as the prairies of Canada and the pine forests of Siberia? The answer of course lies in the Gulf Stream, that warm and watery embrace which bestows the renowned ‘soft’ climate that allows a wide and exotic range of plant species to thrive”. Irish gardeners are making full use of this natural phenomenon. We visit the lush garden of Derreen, the Italianate Gardens of Bantry House and Harold Peto’s Ilnacullin, as well a very exclusive, private garden on an island. We will be staying one night in the renowned Ballymaloe Hotel before pushing further west to Parknasilla Resort & Spa on the shores of Kenmare Bay, described by George Bernard Shaw as “a place of long sea views and intricate walks, between ferns and fuchsias, rocks and rhododendron […] along the various fingers of land that point Southwest into the warm Atlantic. This place does not belong to any land that you or I have ever worked or lived in… it is part of our dream world”.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Fly from London to Cork. From here we drive to meet Adam Whitbourn, Head Gardener of Blarney Castle Gardens, who will walk us through the gardens. After a simple lunch we move on to the fabulous Ballymaloe Hotel with time to explore the hotel’s garden and its well-stocked shop. Dine tonight at the Ballymaloe Hotel.

Day 2

Our first visit is an exclusive visit to a very private garden which offers scenic views and a range of indigenous plantings. Travelling westwards our second stop is Bantry House where Richard White, 2^nd Earl of Bantry, laid out a series of formal terraces adorned with statuary. A hundred steps lead up to the top of the garden, affording far reaching views across Bantry Bay. After lunch at Bantry House we cross the waters, past the small islands draped with seals, to Garinish Island to view the Italianate gardens of Ilnacullin laid out by the English garden architect Harold Peto. We then travel on westwards into County Kerry and on to the Parknasilla Hotel with time to settle in. We will stay here for the next three nights, dining together each evening.

Day 3

Across Kenmare Bay is Derreen Garden, a luxuriant sub-tropical woodland garden in a dramatic setting with rare plants and good sea views. After a simple lunch we will visit Dawros Gallery & Garden which was laid out by Dutch artist Charlotte Verbeek. Charlotte settled here 20 years ago and was inspired by the natural surroundings and by the work of Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. Return to the hotel for a group dinner this evening.

Day 4

Our first visit this morning is to Kells Bay, a garden nestled along the scenic Ring of Kerry. Here lies a strong emphasis on exotic species, particularly a renowned collection of tree ferns, many of which date back to the mid-19^th century. Following a simple café lunch, we return to Parknasilla for an afternoon visit to a very private garden on an island in Kenmare Bay. A very short boat crossing away, richly planted with wonderful sea views, this is a rare and privileged visit.

Day 5

A late start allows time for exploring the magnificent coastline, or the Parknasilla walled garden. We then make our way back east, stopping off at The Austen Garden, home of Stephen & Louise Austen. Wonderfully situated in the hills of Co Kerry, Stephen and his wife have shaped a comfortable garden from the bog and rock which surrounds an ancient farmhouse. Return flight from Cork to London.

Ballymaloe Hotel

A unique Irish Country House experience. Ballymaloe House is a family run Country House Hotel and restaurant on 300 acres of farmland located in beautiful East Cork countryside. Internationally recognised as the birthplace of Modern Irish Cuisine, Ballymaloe House offers you the very best of Irish hospitality and seasonal locally sourced or homegrown food. Accommodation at Ballymaloe House has a calm and relaxed feel. There are a range of rooms in the main house, some large and airy with beautiful views over the fields as well as cosier rooms at the top of the house, in the eaves and newer garden rooms which look on to the river and trees beyond.

Parkansilla Resort & Spa

Nestled in the shadows of the Kerry mountains amidst islands, inlets, and hidden beaches. Parknasilla is tucked away in its own 500-acre estate on the Ring of Kerry along the Wild Atlantic Way, close to the charming town of Kenmare. Parknasilla enjoys a rich heritage dating back to 1692 with the Manor House designed by eminent architect James Franklin Fuller. Over 126 years, presidents and poets, royalty and writers, actors and actress have chosen Parknasilla as their haven of rest. Rooms here are light and airy with views of the sea or mountains and the hotels features a spa and swimming pool.

With Flights: £3550

Join Direct: £3400

Single Supp: £450

Deposit: £450

Departure Dates:

6 - 10 July 2026

Duration:

4 nights / 5 days

Your Holiday Includes:

One night's bed and breakfast at the Ballymaloe Hotel
Three nights' bed and breakfast at the Parkansilla Resort & Spa
Private coach transfers and excursions
Four evening meals and three lunches
Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
Services of the Tour Host and Tour Leader
Detailed programme and garden notes
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff

Tour Host & Leader

Neil Porteous

With an exceptional knowledge of plants, Neil has explored numerous species in their natural habitats, traveling to China, North and South Africa, Australia, and the Himalayas. His passion for history and love for researching the stories behind historic gardens led to an MA in Garden History and a BSc. Hons in Landscape Management & Horticulture. Neil frequently appears on local radio, sharing his expertise and insights. Offering over a dozen different talks and tours, he relishes public speaking and garden guiding, enjoying the opportunity to meet and learn from other gardeners. Currently, Neil works as an independent garden consultant, advising private clients, Mount Stewart in Co. Down, and the Office of Public Works at Annes Grove and Doneraile Court in Co. Cork. Additionally, he is researching the histories of the gardens at Mount Stewart and Brook Hall in Co. Londonderry.

Sophie Piebenga

Born in The Netherlands and based in the Cotswolds, our expert Sophie Piebenga has lived most of her life in the UK. Trained with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, all whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, Sophie quickly developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. Sophie has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation, and, for the last 25 years, has regularly led Boxwood tours around the UK and to Ireland, France, Spain and The Netherlands.