Loughcrew Historic Gardens
Garden
An insight into garden history, follies, big herbaceous borders and much more.
Address:
Loughcrew
Oldcastle
Co Meath
Oldcastle
Co Meath
Tel: +353 49 854 1356
Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.
Loughcrew Historic Gardens
Opening Months: March, April, May, June, July, August, SeptemberOpening Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Opening Hours: 17th Mar - 30th Sept, daily 12.30-6pm; also open other months Sun & Bank Hols only: 1-5pm
Admission Charge: €7 adults; €3.50 kids; €5 OAPs, Students & Groups; €20 Family
- Appointment Only
- Admission Charge
Georgina Campbell
After a long and sometimes fateful history, a more serendipitous chapter has opened for Loughcrew. The original 17th century landscaped grounds, which were revived in the 19th century have been rescued again with help from the Great Gardens of Ireland. The restoration programme began in 1997, and work is ongoing. This is an intriguing place to take a walk through gardening and archaeological history. An avenue leads to the 6 acres of grounds, and to venerable survivors of the original plan: the great yew walk dating back to 1670, and a viewing mound.
Features include a long herbaceous border - long enough to rival Strokestown’s record breaker - with planting designed by Daphne Shackleton, a hot border known as Hell Fire and a Grotesque border, with labels, for the curiosities of the plant world. Other curiosities include a huggy walk (wait till you see the trees) and a waterfall flowing from under the roots of a tree.
Reminders of the distant past lie in the Loughcrew passage tombs and cairns, a medieval motte or moot, and the ruins of a church dedicated to St Oliver Plunkett, born in the Plunkett castle which preceded three subsequent houses on the site. Said to have been the victim of a curse, the 1820s mansion burnt down three times in a century and, after the last fire in 1960, was abandonded. The Ionic portico has found a new incarnation, as the most dramatic of a number of follies in the grounds.
Take stout shoes, and enjoy the walk to the Hill of the Witch and the Loughcrew Passage Tombs.
Features include a long herbaceous border - long enough to rival Strokestown’s record breaker - with planting designed by Daphne Shackleton, a hot border known as Hell Fire and a Grotesque border, with labels, for the curiosities of the plant world. Other curiosities include a huggy walk (wait till you see the trees) and a waterfall flowing from under the roots of a tree.
Reminders of the distant past lie in the Loughcrew passage tombs and cairns, a medieval motte or moot, and the ruins of a church dedicated to St Oliver Plunkett, born in the Plunkett castle which preceded three subsequent houses on the site. Said to have been the victim of a curse, the 1820s mansion burnt down three times in a century and, after the last fire in 1960, was abandonded. The Ionic portico has found a new incarnation, as the most dramatic of a number of follies in the grounds.
Take stout shoes, and enjoy the walk to the Hill of the Witch and the Loughcrew Passage Tombs.
Best time of year to visit: March, April, May, June, July, August, September
Groups & Tours
- Groups Accepted
- Groups Need Appointments
- Accept Only Groups
- Guided Tours
Tour Days:
Additional
Events
Opera and music (Don Pasquale Garden opera - 27-28 June 2008)Other Facilities
Education areaMiscellaneous
helpful 'Garden Guide' pamphlet lets you choose from a variety of walks, from 3/4 hour to 3 hourDirections
4 miles from Oldcastle on the Mullingar RoadFacilities / Features
- Parking
- Suitable for children
- Dogs welcome
- Refreshments
- Restaurant
- Cafe
- Visitor Centre
- House open to public (where applicable)
- Museum
- Gift Shop
- Garden Centre
- Plant Sales
- Accomodation
- WC
- WC Wheelchair Accessible
- Wheelchair Access
View All Recommended Gardens
- 2 Old Galgorm Road
- 21 Library Road
- 28 Killyfaddy Road
- Airfield Gardens
- Altamont
- Anna's House & Garden
- Annes Grove Garden
- Ardcarraig
- Ardgillan Castle & Demesne
- Ashford Castle Hotel & Gardens
- Aultaghreagh Cottage Garden
- Ballindoolin House & Garden
- Ballon Garden
- Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens
- Ballynahinch Castle Hotel & Garden
- Ballyvolane House
- Bay Garden, The
- Beaulieu House, Gardens and Car Museum
- Bellefield
- Belvedere House, Gardens & Park
- Benvarden
- Birr Castle Demesne
- Brigit's Garden & Cafe
- Burton Hall
- Burtown House Gardens
- Caher Bridge Garden
- Cappoquin House Garden
- Carraig Abhainn Gardens
- Carysfort Lodge
- Cashel House Hotel & Gardens
- Castlecoote House & Gardens
- Cedar Lodge
- Cois Cuain Gardens
- Coolaught Gardens
- Corke Lodge
- Delta Sensory Garden
- Derreen Garden
- Dillon Garden, The
- Duckett's Grove Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds
- Enniscoe House & Gardens
- Fairbrook House Gardens & Museum of Contemporary Figurative Art
- Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens
- Gash Gardens
- Glanleam House & Subtropical Garden
- Glebe Gardens and Cafe
- Glendale Gardens
- Glenmount
- Glenveagh Castle Gardens
- Grasse Cottage
- Grove Gardens
- Guincho
- Hardymount
- Heywood Gardens
- Hilton Park
- Hunting Brook Gardens
- Illnacullin
- June Blakes Garden & Nursery
- Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
- Killruddery House & Gardens
- Killurney Garden
- Kilmacurragh Arboretum - National Botanic Garden
- Kilmokea Gardens
- Kilravock Garden
- Knockabbey Castle & Gardens
- Knockanree
- Knockmore
- Knockrose Garden
- Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden
- Lakemount Garden.
- Lassanaroe Garden
- Lismore Castle Gardens
- Lisselan Gardens
- Listoke Gardens
- Lodge Park Walled Gardens
- Loughcrew Historic Gardens
- Mount Congreve
- Mount Juliet & Garden
- Mount Stewart House & Gardens
- Mount Usher Gardens
- National Botanic Gardens
- National Garden Exhibition Centre
- Newtownbarry House Gardens
- Powerscourt Gardens
- Primrose Hill
- Ram House Gardens
- Rathmichael Lodge
- Redcot
- Rockfield House
- Rowallane Garden
- Salthill Walled Garden
- Seaforde Gardens
- Strokestown Park House & Garden
- The Talbot Botanic Gardens
- Tullynally Castle & Gardens
- Vandeleur Walled Garden
- Warble Bank
- Williamstown Garden
- Woodstock Gardens
Trip Planning Tools
My Ireland Guide
Local Recommendations
Hospitality
- Loughcrew Estate
(0.7km)SE - Lough Bawn House
(6.2km)SW - Ryan's Farm
(7.6km)SE - Sheridans Cheesemongers
(9.4km)NE - St Kyrans Country House & Restaurant
(11.3km)NE - Virginia Park Lodge
(11.4km)NE - Deerpark Inn
(11.9km)NE - Lough Bishop House
(13.6km)SW - Clonarn Clover Eggs
(16.0km)NE - Headfort Arms Hotel
(18.3km)SE - Vanilla Pod Restaurant
(18.3km)SE - Weirs Bar & Restaurant
(20.1km)SW - Lough Owel Lodge
(24.0km)SW - Martry Mill
(24.5km)SE - Teltown House
(25.8km)SE - Mullingar Park Hotel
(25.9km)SW - Man of Aran Fudge
(26.1km)SE - CR Tormey & Sons
(26.5km)SW - Stephens Fish Market
(26.6km)SW - Annebrook House Hotel
(26.6km)SW
Self Catering
- Clonabreany House
(6.5km)SE - Tankardstown House & Cottages
(35.6km)SE - Castletown Gatelodges
(60.0km)SE
Farmers Markets
- Carnaross Local Food - Co Meath - Saturdays
(9.3km)NE - Kells - County Meath - Saturdays
(18.0km)SE - Kells - Co Meath - Saturdays
(18.0km)SE - Mullingar - County Westmeath - Sundays
(26.7km)SW - Cavan Town - Co Cavan - Friday Mornings
(31.3km)NW - Cavan - Co Cavan - Saturdays
(31.8km)NW - Longford - Co Longford - Fridays
(42.6km)SW - Belturbet - Co Cavan - Fridays
(44.7km)NW - Monaghan Country - Co Monaghan - last Saturday each month
(50.8km)NE - Celbridge - Village at Lyons - Co Kildare - Fridays
(64.4km)SE
Tourist Attractions
-
Trim Castle
(31.5km)SW -
Hill of Tara
(39.8km)SW -
Old Mellifont Abbey
(45.1km)SW -
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
(45.2km)SW -
Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
(47.1km)SW -
Tayto Park
(50.4km)SW -
Maynooth Castle
(54.2km)SW -
Castletown House
(59.2km)SW
Golf Courses
- Headfort Golf Club
(20.3km) SE - Mullingar Golf Club
(31.6km) SW - County Meath Golf Club
(32.2km) SE - Knightsbrook Golf Club
(33.1km) SE - Farnham Estate Golf Club
(33.5km) NW - Royal Tara Golf Club
(37.4km) SE - Rathcore Golf and Country Club
(38.3km) SE - MoyValley Golf Club
(38.6km) SE - Nuremore Hotel & Country Club
(39.0km) NE - New Forest Golf Club
(43.0km) SW - Slieve Russell Golf Club
(47.9km) NW - Mount Temple Golf Club
(53.6km) SW - Carton House Golf Club
(54.7km) SE - Esker Hills Golf Club
(56.2km) SW - K Club, The - Ryder Cup 2006
(59.2km) SE
Gardens
- Loughcrew Historic Gardens
(0.0km) - Tullynally Castle & Gardens
(15.3km)SW - Rockfield House
(17.2km)SE - Grove Gardens
(17.8km)SE - Belvedere House, Gardens & Park
(32.3km)SW - Ballindoolin House & Garden
(40.5km)SE - Williamstown Garden
(40.5km)SE - Knockabbey Castle & Gardens
(43.0km)NE - Hilton Park
(44.5km)NW - Lodge Park Walled Gardens
(58.9km)SE - Primrose Hill
(63.1km)SE
Nearby Towns/Areas
- Oldcastle
(3.5km) NW - Collinstown
(10.9km) SW - Castlepollard
(11.6km) SW - Mountnugent
(11.8km) NW - Virginia
(11.9km) NE - Carnaross
(12.8km) NE - Multyfarnham
(17.4km) SW - Kells
(18.3km) SE - Athboy
(20.3km) SE - Granard
(20.8km) NW
Apps and Books
-
Georgina Campbell's Ireland - The Best of the Best
A selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection, the ‘glovebox bib ...more... -
From Tide to Table by Georgina Campbell
Paperback edition of From Tide to Table - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Buying, Prep ...more...
Comments
There are currently no comments
Leave a comment
Not a member? Register for your free membership now!
Or leave a comment by logging in with: