Parks & Gardens in Donegal

The walled kitchen garden where a broad range of soft fruit, vegetables, salad crops and herbs are cultivated for the award winning hotel kitchens. Adjacent to the Restaurant is a recently made tranquillity garden with a contemporary sculpture by Zara Cunningham-Bell. There is no charge for admission to our gardens and they are open: Easter to October 10am-4pm Daily. Closed November to Easter. …

Built in the early 19th century for the Church of Ireland Rector, St. Columb’s overlooks the shores of Lough Gartan. The house and grounds were transformed into a haven of artistic beauty by the late Derek Hill who planted many rare and unusual trees and shrubs. Hill was assisted by James Russell of Sunningdale Nurseries “ Russell and myself aimed to accentuate simply the natural formation of …

Salthill is well illustrated in “The Irish Garden” (2015) by Jane Powers with photographs by Jonathon Hession. She aptly describes the space “The 0.5 hectare enclosure has that delightful feeling of privacy and mystery that is particular to old walled gardens”. So, come and witness the “great gatherings of herbaceous plants amid mature shrubs and noteworthy trees”. Admission: €5 Adults, €2 …

This is Donegal’s tropical garden, inspirational and boldly experimental! This garden also specialises in plants tolerant of seaside conditions. ‘Cluain na dTor’ meaning “meadow of the shrubs” - an apt place-name - shrubs as shelter and as ornamentals populate this garden with surrounding natural wildflower meadows. Twenty years in the making, a wonderfully eclectic mix of individual specimens ar…

A gem of a rose garden on a modern housing development. Featuring a huge range of varieties (Climbers, Hybrid Tea and Floribunda) in every colour and with fragrances that will knock your socks off. Admission: €5 to charity and garden maintenance Directions: From N15 in the centre of Ballybofey turn on to R252 (Glenfin Road) passing Jackson’s Hotel on the right. Blue Cedars is on the left a…

This contemporary garden, within 200 yards of the sea, whispers stories of walled gardens of the past. Today it stands independent of trends and restorative themes. The walls have stood for over 100 years and were well maintained. Since 1985 the lawn and cultivated perimeter have been gradually transformed by Elizabeth Temple to the present individually styled garden. The evolution continues se…

First established over 30 years ago in an exposed coastal location overlooking Donegal Bay. The garden falls away from the house in a series of hidden terraces with an extensive range of plants, many unusual species suited to the coastal location. Imaginative use of grasses, rich exotic planting and high quality stone-work all feature. Big pots and containers planted with specimen plants are espe…

A private garden romantically set in the former grounds of nearby Drumbeg House and retaining some of the features from the Estate namely a lake and tree lined driveway now a scenic walk connecting the more ornamental section of the garden to a wild flower meadow. Bluebell woods with an insect hotel, a stream, a dam, a birch grove, sweeping perennial beds and a mixed hedge fairy ring all blend to…