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1: POWERSCOURT GARDENS AND HOUSE EXHIBITION (near
Enniskerry).
Tel: 01 204 6000. email:
gardens@powerscourt.ie .
website:
www.powerscourt.ie.
One of the world's Great Gardens, Powerscourt is situated
12 miles south of Dublin in the
foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. It is a sublime blend
of formal gardens, sweeping
terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes together with
secret hollows, rambling walks,
walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and
shrubs. The 18th century
Palladian House now incorporates an innovative shopping
experience, terrace cafe and
house exhibitions. Facilities include 10 themed retail
areas, 18 hole golf course,
garden centre, play area and riverside picnic spots. The
House & Garden are open March 1
- October 31 9.30 am - 5.30 pm, November 1 -
February 28 9.30 am - dusk. Closed 25th & 26th
December. During peak season
there is a 'Hail & Ride' bus service from Bray and
Enniskerry. Public transport:
Dublin Bus (44 from City; 185 from Bray DART Station).
2: AVOCA HANDWEAVERS, POWERSCOURT HOUSE, SHOP & TERRACE
CAFE. Tel 01 2046066. This unique Avoca store and
terrace cafe overlooks the
formal gardens and is individual in style reflecting its
stately origins. Don't miss the
wonderful array of clothing, Waterford Crystal and gifts
for adults, children, the
home and garden. Open all year, 7 days 9.30 am - 6 pm.
3: POWERSCOURT WATERFALL (4 miles south of Enniskerry). A
popular picnic
area with the highest Waterfall in Ireland. Tumbling from
a height of 120km, the
Dargle river crashes spectacularly down and runs through
the beautiful glen. The
Waterfall is open daily 9.30 am - 7.00 pm (summer) and
10.30 am - dusk (winter).
Closed 2 weeks prior to Christmas. Admission charge.
During peak season there is
a 'Hail & Ride' bus service from Bray and Enniskerry. No
nearby public transport.
4: KILLRUDDERY HOUSE AND GARDENS. Tel 01 2863405/2862777.
Is situated
at the southern cross route. Close to the roundabout on
the Bray/Greystones road.
The property of Killruddery was granted to Sir Wilham
Brabazon, who was created
Earl of Meath in 1627. The original house was destroyed in
the Civil War of 1645
and there is no pictorial record of it. The family have
retained Killruddery as their
home ever since. The house was drastically altered in the
1820s and remodelled
by the Morrisons for the 10th Earl. Killruddery is unique
in having the most
extensive early formal gardens, still in their original
style, surviving in Ireland,
largely laid out in the 17th century and added to in the
19th century. They are
among the most important gardens of their type in these
islands. Gardens open 1
April to 30 September 13.00 - 17.00 daily. House open May,
June & September
13.00 - 17.00 daily. Also at other times and dates for
groups by arrangement.
Admission charge. Public transport: 84,181 and private bus
from Dart station to
Southern Cross Route.
5: NATIONAL GARDENS EXHIBITION CENTRE, Kilquade. Tel 01
281 9890 - is
situated near the N 11 route about 2 miles south of the
Glen 0' the Downs. The
centre features 18 gardens laid out by some of the best
designers and contractors
and aims to create the maximum amount of diversity and
contrast between gardens
large and small. Pagoda tea rooms serving light lunches
and snacks. Open
Monday to Saturday 10 am - 6 pm. Sunday' 1 - 6 pm. Public
transport: Bus Eireann
(133) / Dublin Bus (184) to Kilpedder Inn 10.8 miles).
6. GLENROE (Kilcoole Village near Greystones) and GLENROE
OPEN FARM.
Tel 01 2872288. Visit the Molly Malone - the most
televised pub in Ireland with its
interior matching that of the programme set. Visit Miley's
Farm shop and Teasy's
take-away (open from 5 pm). The actual farm where
Ireland's famous TV soap
opera 'Glenroe', is filmed is now open daily to visitors.
Attractions include Dinny's
cottage, farm animals, exhibition area and a souvenir/home
produce shop. Open
April/September Monday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm,
Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holiday 10
am - 6 pm. March and October: Weekends only. Closed:
November-February.
Public transport: Dublin Bus (84). Also closed while
filming.
7. MOUNT USHER GARDENS, Ashford Village (on N11 route).
Tel 0404
40116/40205. Open daily March 15th to October 31st from
10.30 am - 6 pm. These
lovely gardens are laid out along the banks of the Vartry
River. They measure 20
acres and contain approx. 5,000 different species of
plants and trees. including
many Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Camellias, Eucryphia and
Azaleas. Water forms
an essential part of the scenery with cascades and
suspension bridges. Mount
Usher is a wild Robinsonian garden dating from approx.
1860. There is a spacious
tearoom as well as a shopping courtyard with many craft
and other selective shops.
Public transport: Bus Eireann (133,002).
8: THE ROUNDWOOD RESERVOIRS are one of the main water
supply sources
for Dublin City. Ideal for walking, experience wild deer,
foxes, owls etc.; or go
angling for brown trout (10 inches min.) by artificial fly
only is permitted from the
shores of the Lower (south) Reservoir during the season
(March 15th to September
30th). Anglers must be in possession of a day/week or
season permit obtainable
from the Waterworks Office on the R764 Roundwood-Wicklow
Road. If you want to
enjoy a lakeside walk 5 minutes away, at reception turn
left towards Roundwood
Village, take next left (200 yards) and walk for until you
reach lakes (1000 yards),
entrance to walks on either side of road, enjoy a pleasant
walk.
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