Gardens of the South East

Date: Tuesday 26th - Friday 29th August, 2008

Cost: €495 per person sharing

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH GARDEN MAGAZINE

Itinerary:

Tuesday, 26th August
Meet Frances MacDonald in Dublin at 10.00 am at The Gresham Hotel in O’Connell Street where we board our private coach. We arrive in Springmount Garden Centre in time for morning coffee. Our first garden is Ballymore Schoolhouse in Camolin, an oriental style garden of rock, water, foliage and eastern artefacts. Lunch in Bunclody followed by a guided tour of the recently refurbished gardens of Newtownbarry House. We are based in Gorey in the 4* Ashdown Park Hotel. Dine together as a group. BD
www.ashdownpark.com

Wednesday, 27th August
Today begins with a visit to the well known specialist nursery – Camolin Potting Shed. Next stop is Tombrick Gardens where winding gravel paths lead through colourful shrub and perennial borders to a decoratively planted duck pond, home to an impressive collection of ornamental fowl. Time for lunch before a visit to the much loved Altamont Gardens – impressive double herbaceous borders, roses, specimen trees and shrubs with the romantic backdrop of the lake and woodland. We return to Gorey for a stroll around the gardens of Marlfield House before dining as a group there. BD
www.marlfieldhouse.com

Thursday, 28th August
This morning, we visit Coolaught Gardens in Clonroche – a tranquil, rural garden with a host of plants. We then go to Woodville – a charming Victorian walled garden with conservatories, vegetable gardens, herbaceous borders and water garden.
In the afternoon we have a guided tour of Mount Congreve, a wonderful, world renowned garden with an unparalleled plant collection. Return to hotel for dinner together. BD

Friday, 29th August
Check out of hotel and travel to The Bay Garden in Camolin for morning coffee and a tour of the garden.
In the afternoon, we visit the natural Robinsonian gardens at Mount Usher and return to Dublin at approximately 5pm. B

Frances MacDonald, a qualified and experienced gardener and guide, escorts this tour; she will be available at all times to help and advise you.

Further details from: Frances MacDonald (tours@thebaygarden.com)

Cost includes private coach transfers, gardens entrance fees and bed & breakfast and dinner in hotel and dinner at Marlfield House. Lunches are at own expense.

COST: €495.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: €65.00. Triple rooms available

Deposit: €200.00 – Payable to 'Bay Garden Tours'.

Itinerary subject to change