Wicklow’s Hidden Gardens – Two Day Tour

May 2018

Our May 2018 Press Trip brought us through some of Wicklow’s best hidden gardens:  Start at June Blake’s and Hunting Brook Gardens in Blessington. Quick lunch at Grangecon Cafe,  Check the Rhododendrons and Birds of Prey Centre at Russborough House and finish the day in Kiltegan at Patthana Garden.  After a fantastic dinner and overnight at the Brooklodge & Macreddin Village, meet Catherine at Shekina Sculpture Garden, tour the Botanic Gardens at Kilmaccuragh and finish the tour with lunch at Hunters Hotel.

Through this page, you will follow our itinerary over the two days.  At the bottom of this page, you will find a References section and Google Map to help you organise your trip if you so wish.

DAY 1: West Wicklow Gardens

June Blake’s Garden

We all met at June Blake’s Garden, where Dara (June’s Son) gave us a tour. June then met us for a cup of tea and some stories.

More on June Blake’s Garden

Hunting Brook Gardens

Located just five minutes from June’s garden, Huntingbrook Garden was our second stop. Unfortunately, Gardener Jimi Blake was away and it is Dara that showed us around.

More on Hunting Brook Gardens

Grangecon Cafe

We drove into the centre of Blessington for lunch at the Grangecon Café

More on Grangecon Cafe – Blessington

Russborough Rhododendron Trail

After lunch, we stopped at Russborough House to follow the short trail to the Rhododendrons.

More on Russborough House

National Birds of Prey Centre

Before leaving Russborough House, we managed a short visit of the National Birds of Prey Centre located pass Russborough’s West Wing.

More on National Birds of Prey

Patthana Garden

Our last visit was in the small village of Kiltegan, passed Baltinglass, where we toured TJ’s Patthana Garden.

More on Patthana Garden

Brooklodge and Macreddin Village

A 25 minutes’ drive over the hills brought us to The Brooklodge and Macreddin Village to spend the night after a meal at the Strawberry Tree.

More on Brooklodge & Macreddin Village

DAY 2: Wicklow Mountains, Spiritual Garden and Exotic Trees

Shekina Scultpure Garden

We left the Brooklodge around 9.30am and drove over ‘…..’ (with stunning views of Lugnaquilla, Ireland’s highest mountain outside of Kerry) to arrive at Shekina Sculpture Garden.

More on Shekina Sculpture Gardens

National Botanic Gardens at Kilmaccuragh

Passed Rathdrum we stopped at the National Botanic Gardens at Kilmaccuragh for a tour.

More on National Botanic Gardens at Kilmaccuragh

Hunters Hotel

We concluded our trip with a short drive to Hunters Hotel for lunch and a visit of their vegetable gardens

More on Hunters Hotel

Trip References:

• June Blake’s Garden:  http://www.juneblake.ie
• Hunting Brook Gardens:  www.huntingbrook.com
• Grangecon Cafe:  https://www.facebook.com/Grangecon-Cafe-139433262795185/
• Russborough House:  http://www.russborough.ie/
• National Birds of Prey: http://nationalbirdofpreycentre.ie/
• Patthana Garden:  https://www.facebook.com/Patthanagardenkiltegan/
• Brooklodge & Macreddin Village:  https://www.brooklodge.com/
• Shekina Sculpture Garden:  http://www.shekinasculpturegarden.com/
• National Botanic Gardens Kilmaccuragh:  http://www.botanicgardens.ie/kilmac/kilmhome.htm
• Hunters hotel:  http://www.hunters.ie/

PRESS REVIEWS:

• Irish Examiner:  ‘The wonders of roaming around a Wicklow garden tour’ (by Rose Martin)
• Irish Times:  ‘Six amazing gardens to visit in Co Wicklow this summer’ (by Arminta Wallace)
• Buzz.ie:  ‘The secret gardens of Wicklow are a hidden wonder’ (by Fiona Kelly) 

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