Gardens of West Cork

Date: Wednesday, 8th - Saturday, 11th September, 2010

Cost: €385 per person sharing

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH GARDEN MAGAZINE

Itinerary:

An opportunity to visit some of the loveliest gardens in West Cork while viewing its most spectacular scenery. We are based in Bantry, a busy market town and fishing port, at the head of the legendary beautiful Bantry Bay. Our hotel, The Maritime, is situated within walking distance of the town with views over the sea.

Wednesday, September 8th
Meet Iain MacDonald at 12.45 pm at Kent Railway Station in Cork city where we board our private coach. We travel to Bantry, stopping en route to visit a private garden. We are based in The Maritime Hotel. Dine together each evening in the hotel as a group. www.themaritime.ie

Thursday, September 9th
Our first visit today is to Bantry House and Gardens. A mixture of formal and informal, arranged over seven terraces, highlights including the Italianate garden, the ‘Hundred Steps’ and the magnificent views over the bay. We stop in Glengarriff with free time for lunch, before taking the boat to Ilnacullen. This small island is renowned for its beautiful garden. Formal Italianate and walled gardens surrounded by a wild garden which blends into the sea and mountain scenery. Return to hotel for dinner together.

Friday, September 10th
Have a leisurely breakfast or stroll around Bantry and visit the weekly artisan food market.
Depart mid-morning to visit Carraig Abhainn in Durrus. A guided tour by the owner around this lovely garden which is enhanced by a river and natural waterfalls and a wide variety of plants. Lunch (at own expense) in Durrus and then a visit to our final garden of the day - Kilvarock for a guided tour through this two acre terraced garden which overlooks Dunmanus Bay containing a collection of rare plants from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Return to hotel for dinner together.

Saturday, September 11th
Check out of hotel and travel to Glebe Gardens in Baltimore – a five acre organic garden which includes a vegetable potager, terraced herb garden and two long cutting borders. We then travel to Hosford’s Garden Centre near Bandon for lunch before returning to Cork mid afternoon.

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

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

Cost includes private coach transfers, garden entrance fees and bed & breakfast and dinner in hotel.

COST: €385.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: €90.00

Deposit: €200.00 – Payable to Bay Garden Tours.

Itinerary subject to change