Jenny Beale’s beautiful themed garden near Oughterard reflects the Celtic festivals and, in addition to woodland trails, a ring fort and a stone chamber, there is a café that is worth a visit in its own right.
A pine-ceilinged modern room that also acts as reception/shop has a small kitchen open to view at one end, and is set up with tables covered in old-fashioned oil cloth; everything’s very simple, with plain white crockery and stainless cutlery and paper serviettes and, in fine weather, there is seating outside too.
A short blackboard menu offers a daily soup - chunky, wholesome vegetable with thyme, perhaps - a meal in itself with brown bread & butter, and a special such as home-grown chard and blue cheese pasta.
Lovely toasted sandwiches are generously filled with salad and a choice of fillings (egg mayonnaise, goat’s cheese & herb, hummus & olive, cheese & scallion), and great home bakes include delicious scones with jam & cream, a luscious, walnut & apricot carrot cake, which is nutty and moist.
Good coffee, tea or tisanes, and soft drinks like cranberry or lemon juice - just the kind of place you need to know about when exploring the area.
Good toilets too, including baby changing facilities, and environmentally friendly waste disposal including reed bed sewage treatment.
Special events Summer Solstice Day, Summer Music in the Gardens, Elves and Fairies Day etc – held throughout the year.
The Garden Cafe : Seats 50 (outdoors, 35; private room, 35). Open 1 May-30 Sep, 10.30-5 daily; April, open Sun only;. Toilets & public areas wheelchair accessible; children welcome; children's playground. Closed Oct - mid Apr but tea & coffee available and caters for groups by arrangement. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
