Parks & Gardens in Donegal

Although May and June are usually the best months with the most colour and variety, there is always something in season: from the snowdrops to the autumn colours and winter-flowering cherry. The house and garden have existed for several centuries. There are many rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, large areas of snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells and beautiful walks through young and mature bro…

Set on two acres with amazing views of the Eany river. A mixture of woodland bordering a pond with bluebells in the spring, a fernery in a natural cave, a long mixed border, a wild flower meadow with an abundance of wild orchids. Some whimsical features! Admission: €5 to charity and upkeep of garden Directions: Take N56 Wild Atlantic Way from Donegal Town direction Killybegs. After 8km take l…

Oakfield Park is located near the Heritage town of Raphoe, Co Donegal and is a privately owned estate and home to Ireland's longest miniature gauge railway. Nestled in a lush landscape consisting of award winning walled gardens to ponds, lakes, a lakeside Nymphaeum, a hedge maze, heritage trees and sculptures. Our crowning glory is a 4.5km miniature gauge railway with a diesel and steam train ope…

Founded in 2006, and opening our gates for the first time in the spring of 2007, we are an association of Public and Private Gardens. In 2019 we will have 22 member gardens spread throughout County Donegal from Innishown to Kilcar. Many private gardens proudly collect donations for local charities. Our membership includes long established historic gardens as well as newly made gardens. We are …

The country estate garden of Glenalla is a hidden world surrounded by native woods and moorland. Established in the late 18th century with extensive landscaping by the Franklin family since 1913. Beyond the house and walled kitchen garden are the formal elements of the rockery, rose beds, arbour and stone edged lily pond. There are collections of rhododendrons together with summer and autumn flow…

Dunmore Gardens is a beautiful secretive walled garden, which lies just outside the pretty village of Carrigans on the western banks of Lough Foyle in Co. Donegal. The McFarland family have lived at Dunmore for four generations and have opened their doors to many weddings, celebrations and garden parties. They are always open to new visitors looking for an occasion or simply to relax in the sanctu…

This garden surrounds a small house with flower borders, grassy paths and many seats each with a special view. Children are very welcome and there are maps for exploring paths and woodland passage ways. There are places for picnics or sheltering from raindrops. Admission: €5 to charity Directions: Take N56 from the centre of Glenties (direction Portnoo) for approx 8km. Take left turn on to …

Established in 1972 by Mrs Jessie Mahaffy, a relative of William Robinson and a granddaughter of the forester at Lissadell, Co Sligo, Blackrock is a garden constructed completely upon rock. A charming rockery sits above the farmhouse. A grassy corridor winds between a shrubbery and a shady border to a small cottage garden where perennials are interspersed with free-seeding aquilegias, foxgloves …

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…