Private Gardens of Northern Ireland 12031

We depart from London on our flight to Belfast (flights from other regional airports may also be available at a supplement – please contact us for details). Upon arrival, we will join our coach and transfer to our first visit, the private garden of Holly House. Here we see a garden comprised of woodlands, herbaceous borders and an iris garden. There is an alpine bed, wildlife ponds and a newly planted shrub and woodland garden. We also find areas of contrast between traditional garden styling and a more modern and contemporary approach. We then visit Drumacalaugh Brae which is spread over several acres including a mill dam and wallsteads that used to house a waterwheel. The garden was designed to complement the existing topography with the expert guidance of John Campbell of the neighbouring Landscape Centre.

This morning our first visit is to Iona Cottage Garden, a relaxed, environmentally friendly country cottage garden which has been under development for several years. The garden, which includes herbaceous borders, a kitchen garden and a cut flower garden is pesticide free with wildlife friendly habitats such as a pond, log piles, bird boxes and a meadow. Some natural exposed rock areas and slightly uneven terrain. Our next visit is to Mount Stewart, dazzling and idiosyncratic gardens which bask in the micro-climate of low rainfall and humid coastal air that exists here. The Italian Garden south of the house is in the form of a giant parterre, edged in startling golden thuja or smouldering purple berberis and filled with plantings of carmine, yellow and scarlet on one side, with cooler blue, lavender and grey on the other. Elsewhere, there is a Spanish garden with huge eucalyptuses looming in the woods behind, and an exuberant and formal sunken garden surrounded by a fine pergola planted with clematis, honeysuckle and roses. The entrance facade of the house overlooks an entirely different landscape, a scene of serenity with noble trees leading gently uphill to a lake. East of the lake are blood-red and orange rhododendrons, and the banks of the lake are planted with long drifts of arum lily. Before we return to the hotel we visit another charming private garden, Ivydene.

Today we depart for Brockagh Wood a rewilding habitat created during lockdown in 2020. This 15-acre site includes a two acre pond, native wildflower meadows, marginal plants, water lilies, moorhens, mallard ducks and little grebes. The one-mile undulating walk around the perimeter of Brockagh Wood helps us to reconnect with Mother Nature and enjoy all that she has to offer. Next we visit Benvarden historic estate near the North Antrim Coast consisting of a wonderfully preserved period house, a mature walled garden and beautiful landscaped grounds on the bank of the River Bush with a unique Victorian cast-iron bridge. The walled  garden covering 2 acres is divided into a flower garden and a vegetable and fruit garden and is described as one of the few fully maintained walled gardens in Ireland and one of the best in private hands. Our final visit today is to Billy Old Rectory Peace Garden, a mature three-acre garden in front of the Georgian rectory home to a large lawn with mature trees, an ancient well and a developing woodland garden with a small fernery. To the rear of the rectory is another large lawn with contrasting herbaceous borders, shrubs and a pond area. There are also kitchen, greenhouse, herb, vegetable and fruit gardens, a large old orchard and area with wildflowers and annuals.

Our final day begins with a visit to Antrim Castle Gardens which are bursting with botanical beauty and heritage – you will find nothing like these 400-year-old gardens anywhere else in Northern Ireland. Highlights include the magnificent 17th Century Anglo Dutch style canals, ponds and avenues, a 12th Century motte; Victorian Pleasure Garden, Large Parterre Gardens and the Platinum Jubilee Clockwork Garden. Following this, we head to Northern Ireland’s answer to New York’s ‘The High Line’ – Randalstown Viaduct Community Garden. This former railway viaduct which spans the River Maines has been transformed by leading garden designer Johnny Knox into a relaxing space which brings year-round floral interest, bee corridors, seeds and berries for birds and also shelter for hibernating species. Finally, we visit Clayburn, a private prairie-style garden which is nestled in a fold of moorlands south of Slemish Mountain. Taking advantage of the surrounding landscape, the mass planting of native trees and layers of colourful herbaceous plants add to the spectacular views. We then make our way back to Belfast airport in time for our return flight to London